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Famed RI ‘Dancing Cop’ gets new holiday gig after protest

RI’s capital city told retired cop he wasn’t needed after he organized protest in response to worker who wrote “blacklivesmatter” on a cop’s coffee cup

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Officer Tony Lepore directs traffic.

AP Image

Associated Press

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The “Dancing Cop” is taking his routine over the river for Christmas.

Retired Providence police officer Tony Lepore gained national notoriety with his dance routines, which he started in 1984.

But Rhode Island’s capital city told him he wouldn’t be needed to direct holiday traffic this year after he organized a protest last month outside a Dunkin’ Donuts where a worker wrote the “blacklivesmatter” hashtag on another officer’s coffee cup. Providence police say Lepore wrongly gave the impression he was speaking for the department.

Now the 68-year-old Lepore says he’s been hired by the city of East Providence to conduct traffic this holiday season. WLNE-TV reports Lepore will be posted in front of City Hall from December 10 through Christmas Eve.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press