[CREDIT: Warwick Police] Terry DiPetrillo, 51 will be arraigned Sept. 7 for slapping a coworker as a punchline in what the victim described as an anti-semitic slap.

WARWICK, RI — Warwick City Councilman Vinny Gebhart has called for Warwick Water Chief Terry DiPetrillo’s dismissal after a lawsuit detailed an atmosphere of violence and sexual harassment that prevented a city employee from performing her job.

A copy of the 50-page complaint, originally reported by GoLocal Prov, has been attached at the end of this article.

“I am calling for the immediate dismissal of the Chief of the Warwick Water Division following deeply troubling allegations of misconduct revealed through local reporting and court filings. The Water Division’s leadership has been accused of multiple instances of sexual harassment, making anti-Semitic jokes and statements, and was charged with assault after slapping an employee during one such anti-Semitic incident. This behavior is unacceptable and incompatible with the values of our community,” Gebhart said in a press release. A copy of that document has also been attached to this article below.

The lawsuit, BREE BOULAIS, Plaintiff, v.CITY OF WARWICK and WARWICK WATER DIVISION, by and through Mayor Frank J. Picozzi, details a workplace of rampant violence, sexual harassment at every level of the Water Division as well as from one member of the city’s Finance Department, an absence of accountability for sexual harassment complaints or regard for the gravity of those complaints within the department, similar disregard for multiple reports of violence and intimidating actions, all either under DiPetrillo’s supervision or made by DiPetrillo himself, between March 2022 through October 2023.

The lawsuit comes after DiPetrillo was arrested by Warwick Police in August 2023 for assaulting another member of his staff, slapping the person as the punchline in a joke the victim described as anti-semitic. The assault charge against DiPetrillo was later disposed, or dropped.

Warwick Post reached out to the Mayor’s office to ask about the allegations laid out in the lawsuit, specifically asking Mayor Frank Picozzi:

1) Has Terry or any member of the Water Division been disciplined for the harassment and retaliation described?

2) Is the Mayor concerned that Terry DiPetrillo has now publicly faced complaints of both an assault leading to an arrest and sexual harassment and retaliation, and the resulting affect on the morale of city employees?

3) Given that the original complaint came from a member of the Finance Department, is the Mayor concerned that city employees may not understand sexual harassment and professional conduct?

4) Has the city provided the people named in the suit with copies of its sexual harassment policies?

5) Does the city regularly conduct sexual harassment training?

Liz Tufts, Picozzi’s media coordinator, replied to the questions, “This is a legal matter, and the city can’t comment on this at this time.”

When asked in a followup email to simply clarify the city’s sexual harassment policy and training, Picozzi’s office did not respond.

Reached Thursday about the city’s sexual harassment policies, Gebhart was not able to offer any insight, noting the Council has limited visibility regarding personnel matters.

“The administration has taken the perspective that they have full authority on personnel matters and do not typically discuss details with the Council. If there were to be litigation or potential litigation, we would typically get briefed in executive session – we’ve had no such update to my knowledge to date,” Gebhart wrote.

In his statement calling for DiPetrillo’s Dismissal, Gebhart stated the actions described are unacceptable.

“The residents of Warwick deserve transparency, accountability, and integrity from their public officials. Our city employees, especially those in crucial services like the Water Division, must feel secure, respected, and free from discrimination in their workplace. These allegations, if true, signify a profound failure in leadership and a serious breach of public trust.

The presence of anti-Semitic rhetoric and harassment in any form is a direct affront to the principles of equality and respect that our city stands for. We cannot tolerate any actions or words that demean or marginalize individuals based on their gender, religion, or any other personal characteristics.

It is imperative that we hold our officials to the highest standards and ensure that no individual feels marginalized or threatened in their role. The safety and dignity of our city’s workforce are paramount, and there is no place for such behavior in our administration.”

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Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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