Warwick PD criticized for not arresting Rep. Cicilline’s sister
By: Rebecca Turco
Email: rturco@abc6.com
WARWICK, R.I. – Warwick Police Chief Stephen McCartney is defending his officer from critics saying U.S. Rep. David Cicilline’s sister received special treatment during a traffic stop.
Susan Cicilline-Buonanno was pulled over Friday night for suspected drunk driving. The traffic stop was broadcast nationwide on the TV show “Live PD.” Officer Matt Moretti ultimately let her go following field sobriety tests – which she initially refused to do.
“Live PD” checks in with different police departments throughout the broadcast, so her tests were not shown in their entirety. Cicilline-Buonanno is seen struggling at times in the video, including following Moretti’s finger with her eyes.
McCartney says that was likely due to nerves from the situation – and from the TV camera. He says he has complete faith in the veteran officer, who is also a drug recognition expert.
"This thing has now become a bigger story than it possibly should, because this person is innocent," McCartney told ABC6 News.
McCartney says Cicilline-Buonanno told Moretti her last name was Buonanno, so he never made the connection she was related to the congressman until after the fact.
Cicilline-Buonanno is also the president of the Narragansett Town Council.
The video was posted on a Rhode Island-specific Facebook page, inciting hundreds of critical comments.
Christopher Young, who hopes to beat out Cicilline in the primary, doesn’t believe police. “There’s an issue of corruption here, an issue of a cover-up, that’s occurring to protect David Cicilline and his sister,” he told ABC6 News.
Young says even if Cicilline weren’t his political opponent, he’d still speak out because his daughter was almost killed by a drunk driver. “The issue of drinking and driving is very serious to me,” Young said.
ABC6 News made repeated attempts to contact Cicilline-Buonanno for comment, including stopping by her house, but these requests went unanswered. A spokesperson for Cicilline referred the reporter to police for comment.
© WLNE-TV 2018
