4 accused in buddy punching at DPW

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - The Target 12 Investigators have learned that four Warwick Department of Public Works employees are facing punishment related to a reported case of time card tampering.

Target 12 undercover cameras recorded a Warwick city employee, whose license was suspended at the time, being picked up at his home by a city truck, between February and May.

Time cards e-mailed to Target 12 showed the employee was punched in before he was picked up at his home.

• Related: Warwick DPW worker terminated from job

Warwick's DPW Director David Picozzi says a total of four Warwick employees were involved with this case of 'buddy punching'.

"I do think it's a big deal. That's why discipline was handed out," Picozzi said.

According to Mayor Scott Avedisian, no overtime was paid and there was no cost to the city, but he tells us the city's investigation involved scanning through DPW surveillance cameras.

During that process, an employee was seen taking time cards off city property and later returning the cards. The mayor says Picozzi questioned the employee about the time card incident.

The investigation was never completed because in an unrelated twist, the employee was arrested for three armed robberies.

"The investigation will continue if there's any ability to have a conversation with him but that hasn't been the case at the moment," said Mayor Scott Avedisian.

Mayor Avedisian tells Target 12 that unnamed employee has been fired after missing five straight days, without an excuse.

The city did not offer details about how the other employees in the 'buddy punching' case were disciplined.