LINCOLN, R.I. (WPRI) -- The town of Lincoln
is moving forward with plans to terminate a police officer who was convicted of
felony assault.
Officer Edward Krawetz was found guilty in March of kicking a handcuffed woman in the head outside Twin River in May 2009 and given a ten-year suspended sentence. He has been suspended without pay since he was first indicted, but the Attorney for the Town of Lincoln says plans are in motion to fire him.
"The Chief of Police is recommending the termination of Officer Krawetz," said Attorney Vincent Ragosta. As requred by the Officer's Bill of Rights, Krawetz was served a notice of termination on Thursday.
"Before a police officer may be suspended or terminated," said Ragosta, "he or she is entitled to a hearing."
That process may take time, and although Krawetz is not being paid by the town, he is still receiving benefits.
"My job is to establish that there is an appropriate justification for him to no longer serve as a police officer in Rhode Island," Ragosta said. "These are not pleasant proceedings."
Krawetz has five days to respond to the notice of termination, at which point that hearing will be scheduled. However, he can avoid the hearing by choosing to resign.
Officer Edward Krawetz was found guilty in March of kicking a handcuffed woman in the head outside Twin River in May 2009 and given a ten-year suspended sentence. He has been suspended without pay since he was first indicted, but the Attorney for the Town of Lincoln says plans are in motion to fire him.
"The Chief of Police is recommending the termination of Officer Krawetz," said Attorney Vincent Ragosta. As requred by the Officer's Bill of Rights, Krawetz was served a notice of termination on Thursday.
"Before a police officer may be suspended or terminated," said Ragosta, "he or she is entitled to a hearing."
That process may take time, and although Krawetz is not being paid by the town, he is still receiving benefits.
"My job is to establish that there is an appropriate justification for him to no longer serve as a police officer in Rhode Island," Ragosta said. "These are not pleasant proceedings."
Krawetz has five days to respond to the notice of termination, at which point that hearing will be scheduled. However, he can avoid the hearing by choosing to resign.
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Write to the Speaker of the House, U.S.
House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 and demand federal hearings into
the police problem in America. Demand
mandatory body cameras for cops, one strike rule on abuse, and a permanent DOJ office on Police Misconduct.