EXCLUSIVE: State Police Suspend Lieutenant Tied to Sex in Car Investigation

EXCLUSIVE: State Police Suspend Lieutenant Tied to Sex in Car Investigation

On Wednesday, Rhode Island State Police Lieutenant John Gadrow was suspended. At the end of the day, he was required to hand in his gun, uniform, leather gear and his cruiser.

According to multiple law enforcement officials, Gadrow’s suspension is tied to an investigation into whether he and an unidentified woman had sex in a State Police cruiser. The alleged incident was discovered by a Charlestown police officer last February.

The incident is now the subject of an internal affairs investigation by the State Police.

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Manni and Gadrow

The issue is further complicated because Rhode Island State Police Superintendent James Manni and Gadrow are close personal friends.

According to multiple State Police sources, Manni and Gadrow regularly socialize together.

Gadrow has been working on the State Police's so-called "Wolfpack" a unit, in part federally funded, designed to enforce highway traffic laws. Gadrow has been the face of the State Police's program. He is the man appearing in photoshoots and conducts media interviews.

GoLocal asked Manni if he had recused himself from overseeing the investigation of Gadrow due to their friendship.

Manni said, “As you are aware, under the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights [LEOBOR].  I am prohibited from making any public statement about any ongoing internal affairs investigation."

GoLocal asked Manni, why he as superintendent he could not discuss his role in the matter. Manni said, “Any comment to that specific question would be considered a public statement under LEOBOR. Therefore I cannot respond to your request for information.”

Manni promoted Gadrow to the rank of Lieutenant on May 23, 2021 -- some three months after the alleged incident occurred.

It took the State Police more than a month to place Gadrow on suspension after the internal investigation. 

According to Rhode Island state records, Gadrow earns $149,445.92 annually.