A Brutal Act Caught on Camera
Some incidents are so shocking that they don’t just make headlines—they make people question the very system meant to protect them. The case of Lincoln police officer Edward Krawetz is one such incident. In May 2009, a security camera at the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island, captured something that would destroy a career and spark outrage across the nation: a uniformed police officer kicking a handcuffed woman in the head .
The victim, Donna Levesque, had been escorted out of the casino for disorderly behavior and was sitting handcuffed on a curb, her hands behind her back, waiting for transport to the police station. The video shows Krawetz, a 12-year veteran of the force, swinging his right foot directly into her face with enough force to knock her over .
The Defense and the Conviction
Krawetz later claimed self-defense, arguing that Levesque had kicked his shin first . But the video told a different story. The footage showed a defenseless woman in police custody being violently assaulted by the very person sworn to protect her. The public was outraged.
In March 2012, a jury convicted Krawetz of felony assault with a dangerous weapon. The judge sentenced him to a 10-year suspension from the police force, required him to undergo counseling, and ordered him to serve no prison time—a decision that many considered far too lenient .
A Change.org petition quickly gathered hundreds of signatures, demanding that Krawetz be fired entirely. The petition argued that “there is no way this man needs to have any authority” .
A Pattern of Violence
This was not Krawetz’s first offense. In 2001, he had pleaded no contest to a simple assault charge after attacking a man who was jogging. He received only a 30-day suspension, even though the police chief at the time had recommended he be fired .
The fact that Krawetz was allowed to remain on the force after that first incident raises serious questions about how police departments handle officers with a history of violence. How many warnings does someone need before they are removed from a position of power?
The Fight to Keep His Job
Following his conviction, a three-day administrative hearing was held to determine whether Krawetz should be allowed to keep his position with the Lincoln Police Department . Under Rhode Island’s Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights, a panel of police officers would decide his professional fate . He faced six administrative counts, including the conviction of a felony involving “conduct which shocks the conscience of a reasonable person” .
A Legacy of Distrust
The Krawetz case remains a stain on the reputation of the Lincoln Police Department. It serves as a reminder that police brutality is not just a distant problem—it happens in communities across the country, often captured on video, and often met with consequences that seem inadequate for the crime.
When the people entrusted with public safety abuse their power, they don’t just hurt their victims. They damage the trust that holds society together. And sometimes, that trust can never be fully repaired.
