Teacher on leave; police probe possible misuse of funds

School district turns documentation over to town’s department; no charges yet filed

By Daniel Kittredge
Posted 11/27/15

A well-known Johnston High School teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave, while Johnston police have launched an investigation into the potential improper use of funds.

Gregory …

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Teacher on leave; police probe possible misuse of funds

School district turns documentation over to town’s department; no charges yet filed

Posted

A well-known Johnston High School teacher has been placed on paid administrative leave, while Johnston police have launched an investigation into the potential improper use of funds.

Gregory Russo, a longtime science teacher who has served as Student Council advisor and an Academic Decathlon coach, was the subject of an internal Johnston Public Schools review before police were asked to become involved. No charges have been filed at this point.

Deputy Police Chief Daniel Parrillo on Wednesday said the matter was turned over to the department earlier this week, along with associated documentation. The investigation, he said, is focused on Russo’s “possibly inappropriate use of school funds,” but he declined to elaborate further.

“We’re not sure if it rises to the level of criminality at this point,” he said.

Parrillo said there is no timeframe associated with the case, and noted that investigations involving finances can “take a lot of time.” He acknowledged the “high-profile” nature of the case given Russo’s role in the community, but said police are “handling it like any other investigation.”

The office of Superintendent Dr. Bernard DiLillo indicated he was out of the office Wednesday and would not return until next week. Messages left for Mayor Joseph Polisena also had not been returned as of Wednesday afternoon.

At press time, a message left for Russo had not been returned. His brother, Town Council President Robert Russo, could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

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