Police investigate Warwick DPW employee

WARWICK, RI (WPRI) - Target 12 undercover cameras have discovered a Warwick Department of Public Works employee taking what appeared to be several loads of loam from the city’s compost facility for a landscaping project in a private yard.

“I have no comment,” the employee, Warwick Compost Facility Senior Equipment Operator Dan Conley, told Target 12 repeatedly. “I have no comment.”

On multiple occasions, Target 12 witnessed Conley driving and parking a pair of privately registered trucks on city property near the compost facility on Sandy Lane. The trucks were loaded several times with what appeared to be loam, which Conley then hauled from the facility.

Target 12 followed one of those loads to Rob Mattox's Warwick home. “It’s just topsoil,” Mattox told Target 12, looking at the lawn now growing in the dirt that he says was delivered by Conley.

On Sept. 8, a half-hour after the compost facility closed to the public, Conley was recorded by Target 12 cameras leaving the fenced city property with a load of what appeared to be loam in the back of one of those privately registered trucks.

Target 12 followed Conley to Mattox’s home and watched as the truck dumped the dirt in the driveway. About an hour later, the empty dump truck was parked in front of a home that tax assessor’s records indicate is owned by Conley.

“I have no comment,” Conley said when asked if he took any of the city’s loam.

          OTHER TARGET 12 WARWICK HEADLINES   W

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On Aug. 30, Target 12 undercover cameras recorded Conley drive away from the compost facility with another load of what appeared to be loam. It was 3:10 in the afternoon, 10 minutes after the facility closed.

On Sept. 7, 15 minutes after the facility closed, Target 12 cameras recorded Conley is leaving in one of the private trucks, with another load of what appeared to be loam. The truck broke down less than a mile away and was eventually towed.

Target 12 did not witness Conley driving the trucks into the facility but did see him drive out with loads of what appeared to be loam.

“No, it’s not okay to take that (loam),” Conley acknowledged. “And that’s not what it is.”

He went on to say he has taken the facility's compost, which is free to Warwick residents. But a sample of what was in the back of one of the dump trucks is light-brown in color with a fine texture. A sample of the free compost obtained by Target 12 was black and chunky with twigs and leaves in it.

Mattox says he spread what Conley brought to his home and grew grass in that very same soil. He tells Target 12 he's positive about what Conley delivered.

“It was all topsoil. You can see the dirt. I'll dig it up if you want me too,” Mattox said.

Mattox tells us Conley delivered five loads to his home and says he did not pay Conley for it. He said he did not know the soil came from the city facility.

“I know he (Conley) works for the city,” Mattox added.

“I have no comment. You guys take your dirt. Do what you've got to do,” Conley said, walking away from a Target 12 camera. He added another "no comment" when reminded that the questions were about "the city’s dirt," paid for by taxpayers.

Target 12 contacted Warwick DPW Director David Picozzi, who referred us to the city. The matter is now in the hands of Warwick Police.

"We started an investigation. It is an active investigation, so I really can't comment too much," Lt. David DeAngelis said. 

"The city considers the allegations serious and has asked Warwick police to investigate any potential criminal activity related to possible theft of city materials," Warwick spokesperson Susan Baker said.

Baker added that city officials are also concerned about issues that appear to be non-criminal in nature, but are potential violations of city policies, including Warwick's Ethics and Integrity in City Government Executive Order.

"Such as unauthorized access to city facilities after regular hours, unauthorized use of city equipment for personal use and use of city material for business use," Baker said.

If you have any information regarding this investigation or any government waste, contact Warwick's integrity officer at 468-4337.

Send news tips to Target 12 Investigator Walt Buteau at wbuteau@wpri.com and follow Walt on Twitter: @wbuteau