A Rhode Island police officer who kicked a handcuffed woman in the head got off with probation and a 10-year suspended sentence. Though he was convicted of felony battery, which carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence, Krawetz will spend no time at all in prison. And it will take a special hearing to remove him from the force.
Caught on video Krawetz's crime is a clear case of excessive and potentially deadly force. The woman was unable to break her fall as the kick slammed her head on to the curb, and then Krawetz did nothing to check whether she was all right.
While sitting handcuffed on the curb, the woman had kicked at the cop’s leg with her bare foot as he began going through her purse, but he was clearly in no danger, and other officers stood nearby.
Crimes such as Krawetz's should never be taken so lightly. Tell RI to get tough on police brutality.
We, the undersigned, are outraged by Officer Krawetz’s crime and the light sentence he received. It is beyond outrage that, as a convicted felon, he would be allowed to fight his termination from the force.
Those detained by police, unarmed and handcuffed, are in particularly vulnerable positions - unable to defend themselves or even catch a fall. They are supposed to be under the protection of officers detaining them, not at their mercy.
The department of justice is investigating a rash of police brutality across the country, and it is time Congress put this crime in a special category along with hate crimes.
Not only did Krawetz’s get off way too light for what he did, exemplifying also the double-standard in our justice system, but RI law actually allows him to remain on the force as a convicted felon, and it will take a special committee to terminate him.
Any law-enforcement officer behaving as Krawetz did should never be allowed to work as a police officer or in any public office again - nor should any convicted felon. And there needs to be a federal law, with certain and severe punishment for police officers who commit these blatant, potentially deadly crimes, especially against detained suspects.
In the meantime we request that Krawetz be fired and RI pass get tough on police brutality - no more suspended sentences - no more slaps on the hand.
Please take these concerns very seriously, and thank you for your time.
