UPDATED: DiPetrillo, Warwick’s Embattled Director Goes on Paid Sick Leave

UPDATED: DiPetrillo, Warwick’s Embattled Director Goes on Paid Sick Leave

GoLocal has learned that Terry DiPetrillo, the director of the City of Warwick’s Water Division, has gone on extended paid sick leave.

City officials have confirmed DiPetrillo’s leave. He is paid $107,000 a year plus benefits.

"Mr. DePetrillo is discharging paid sick leave from 06/28 – 07/29/2024.  He informed the City on 6/28," said Elizabeth Tufts, media coordinator for Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi in an email to GoLocal.

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DiPetrillo, over the past year, has been a lightning rod for the city.

In 2023, he entered a guilty plea in striking a subordinate.

Terry DiPetrillo pled guilty to assaulting a subordinate in his department in 2023. That incident was tied to an antisemitic "joke" and his slapping a city employee. The court ordered him to have no contact with the victim.

He was suspended by the city for ten days before being reinstated. 

In addition, as GoLocal was the first to report in June, DiPetrillo, in a separate legal action, is alleged to have been involved in sexual harassment of a female employee under his supervision. That suit was filed in federal court and is currently pending.

Terry’s brother, Michael DiPetrillo, who is alleged in the lawsuit to have "thrown a power tool" at the plaintiff, is the big winner in Warwick’s Water Division in being assigned overtime.

In an exclusive today, GoLocal unveiled that under Terry DiPetrillo his brother has scored more than $73,000 in overtime on the past 18 months — tens of thousands more than any other employee.

This story was first published 7/1/24 4:41 PM. Updated at 6:15 AM on 7/2/21.