NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Both North Providence and East Providence can use money forfeited by Google to bail out their police pension funds, officials announced Friday afternoon during a press conference at North Providence Town Hall.
The police departments in both communities have been earmarked for $60 million due to their involvement in a federal probe of online advertisements posted by Google. The advertisements helped Canadian companies illegally sell prescription drugs in the United States, according to federal prosecutors.
However, U.S. Department of Justice policies on the spending of such forfeited money did not cite fixing pension liabilities as an approved use.
North Providence and East Providence requested special permission from the Justice Department to spend the money on their pension needs.
