EXCLUSIVE: State Police Lt. Investigated for Sex in Car Incident Will Retire With Full State Pension

Friday, December 31, 2021

GoLocalProv News Team

 

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State Police Lieutenant John Gadrow who ten months ago was allegedly discovered having sex in his State Police cruiser with an unidentified woman, will avoid firing or any significant disciplinary action, but will retire with a full state pension, GoLocal has learned.

The incident in the cruiser was uncovered by Charlestown Police in February 2021.

In early December, GoLocal reported that Gadrow was suspended with pay -- ten months after the date of the alleged incident.

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Then, the incident was the subject of an internal affairs investigation by the State Police.

In response to an email from GoLocal to the Rhode Island State Police on Wednesday and GoLocal’s assertion that refusal to provide information about Gadrow’s retirement was public record and not covered by the police officer’s bill of rights, Colonel James Manni provided the following statement to GoLocal.

“Due to your email yesterday that the ‘agency dragged its feet to cover this up” and “we can go to lawyers now,” I, as the Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, am compelled to defend the integrity of this agency against your attempts to distort the facts and not respect the law regarding public statements during the LEOBOR process," said Manni. 

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Col. Manni and Lt. John Gadrow

Manni is a close personal friend of Gadrow and he refused to recuse himself from overseeing the investigation. According to multiple law enforcement officers both on the job now and recently retired, Manni and Gadrow are known to regularly hunt together and socialize.

“On October 15, 2021, another law enforcement agency notified the Rhode Island State Police of allegations of inappropriate on-duty conduct by a member of the agency.  The allegations regarded conduct from February 2021.  Immediately, within minutes upon being received, the allegations were brought to my attention and I, as Superintendent, ordered the Professional Standards Unit to open an investigation,” said Manni.

“This investigation was handled with the efficiency and professionalism expected in any Rhode Island State Police investigation.  At the end of the investigation, internal administrative charges were recommended and brought seeking termination of employment.  Rather than go through a LEOBOR hearing, the employee decided to voluntarily separate from employment effective January 16, 2022.  Because the voluntary separation will occur prior to when a LEOBOR panel would have even been selected by the parties, and provides certainty of the outcome to the agency, this outcome is satisfactory to the Rhode Island State Police. To state that the Rhode Island State Police dragged its feet to engage in a cover-up is maliciously false. This matter was treated in the same manner as every other internal affairs investigation and the separation of employment was secured much sooner than if it had proceeded to a LEOBOR hearing,” added Manni.

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

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.

 

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