By Leila Merrill
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A former Warwick firefighter is accused of threatening to shoot or kill fire department members and city and state officials, WJAR reported.
Barry J. LaFleur, 57, a retired Warwick Fire Department lieutenant who served for 23 years, made an initial appearance in court Wednesday, according to the Rhode Island Department of Justice.
Charging documents say that LaFleur made the threats in tens-of-thousands of messages — most of which were emails and online postings — both while he worked for the department and after his retirement.
The criminal complaint stated that local police were alerted to one of his comments in September.
The comment stated: “I was injured while fighting a fire. The city did not want to pay me specifically, so i was accused of threatening to kill a public official with an ak47. My new job is to kill public officials and police in Rhode Island. Especially the mayor, police and fire chiefs in Warwick. Somebody has to kill them, I am not too busy. I no longer have a home, or job, or life to speak of, but I do have plenty of time, and a mandate.”
LaFleur was released into detention in his home with GPS monitoring.