Louis Rainone is the elected secretary of NEA Rhode Island and is so beloved the association named the “NEARI Louis Rainone ESP Union Spirit Award” after him, to be bestowed upon a member who “exhibits great union advocacy and association involvement.”
Fortunately, Rainone was off the clock when this happened:
The secretary of Rhode Island’s largest teachers union was arrested last Friday after allegedly assaulting a man at the Harborside restaurant in East Greenwich.
Police say 58-year-old Louis Rainone, secretary for the National Education Association Rhode Island, told 62-year-old Kenneth Chatelle he was going to “throw him in the ocean” and then punched him in the eye after Chatelle told him to go away.
The police were unable to obtain video of the incident, but three witnesses said they saw Rainone punch Chatelle. Rainone told police that Chatelle pushed him first and said he couldn’t remember if he threw a punch.
Rainone was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct. NEARI had no comment.
Rainone previously displayed his spirit in 2011, when he harassed former Democratic state representative Doug Gablinske and his wife, along with Providence Journal editorial writer Ed Achorn in a courthouse elevator. He then had an encounter with another Rhode Island state representative.
Rainone confronted Deputy Sheriff Scott Scungio after the hearing about why he let Brien continue to use his cell phone while ordering everyone else to turn theirs off. Rainone pointed at Brien, who responded defensively and surged forward.
The conflict continued out into the hallway, where WPRO reporter Bob Plain reported that Rainone ran toward Brien, pounding his fist into his hand. The two exchanged fighting words that were captured by Plain.
Teachers’ unions are admirably devoid of people threatening to throw other people into the ocean, but Rainone seems to be really old school. His court appearance is June 21. Don’t get in the elevator with him.