Lincoln ready to fire convicted Krawetz

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Lincoln officials tell Target 12 the town will seek to fire convicted police officer Edward Krawetz but the process will not start until the criminal case is completed.

“And that includes any appeals that might result from a conviction,” Vincent Ragosta said.

Ragosta will represent the town in the civil part of the case and in his opinion, the odds strongly favor Lincoln.

“In my 32 years of experience with cases like this, I’ve never seen an officer convicted of a felony keep their job,” Ragosta said.

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Ragosta prepared the document known as a civil complaint and notice which he says parallels the criminal charges that led to the felony battery with a dangerous weapon conviction against Krawetz for kicking Donna Levesque in the head. The assault was captured on Twin River surveillance video.

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According to Ragosta, the burden of proof will be lower in the civil case but the Law Enforcement Officer's Bill Of Rights controls who hears the case and punishes the officer.

“A police chief may not discipline an officer to any extent. A police chief's power in Rhode Island is limited to recommending discipline.”

A committee of three active or retired officers would hear the case and decide on punishment. Krawetz would pick one of the officers. The Lincoln police chief picks a second and if the first two cannot agree on the third, a judge makes the final choice.

Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond tells Target 12 that in his opinion, once the conviction is upheld, the town can dismiss Krawetz without the hearing committee process.

Krawetz was punished by a hearing committee after a misdemeanor assault conviction in 2001. But Target 12 found out the recommendation to the committee to dismiss him from the force was reduced to a 30 day suspension.

The criminal sentencing for Krawetz is scheduled for March 19th. In the meantime, the convicted officer is suspended without pay.