A Superior Court judge Monday found Lincoln Police Officer Edward Krawetz guilty of felony battery, in the May, 2009 attack on a handcuffed woman outside the Twin River slots parlor. \
As Judge Edward C. Clifton delivered the guilty verdict after a more than 2 1/2 hour recounting of the testimony and evidence, Krawetz looked down and shook his head "no.""Obviously, he's disappointed," with the verdict, said Krawetz's attorney, John Harwood.
As Judge Edward C. Clifton delivered the guilty verdict after a more than 2 1/2 hour recounting of the testimony and evidence, Krawetz looked down and shook his head "no.""Obviously, he's disappointed," with the verdict, said Krawetz's attorney, John Harwood.
"It's not a good day for law enforcement in the state when a police officer is attacked, makes a split-second decision and then gets this type of decision," Harwood said.
The judge had earlier dismissed the charge of assault, saying that there was no testimony the the victim had any fear of harm in her encounter with Krawetz. She did not testify at the jury-waived trial.
Krawetz has been suspended and on leave from the Lincoln police since the incident, in which he exchanged kicks with a handcuffed woman, Donna Levesque outside the casino. A survellience video casino showed Krawetz kicking Levesque in the head after she tried kicking him in the shin.
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Unbelievable... in that the "thugs" lawyer insists that the (handcuffed) woman was a grievous threat (in her seated position, with her hands cuffed & restrained behind her back) to his "client". Her kick to his shin bore absolutely no threat to him, however his full roundhouse kick to her head (while she was seated & restrained) was without a doubt meant to cause serious injury!!
ReplyDeleteIMO this is obvious to anyone looking at the evidence.
I'm waiting for his lawyer to state that "all departmental policies and procedures were followed".
I know for a FACT that this type of crime (battery by LEO) is not (or at least WAS NOT) taught at an eastern Washington state Law Enforcement/Police academy. In fact recruits would face a serious "dressing down" for violation of the academies standards of training and violation of the civil rights of the individual in their custody!
For the moment i'm pleased to see this "thug" be bound by the same laws that bind a civilians actions. I suppose we'll have to wait and see what kind of result his (automatic) appeal will deliver.
Well said.
ReplyDeleteCertainly the video speaks for itself. That is, to anyone who does not gyrate their loins in adulation to copdom. Yet, we live in a sick society where to many cops and to many citizens believe that any slight to copdom is an excuse for disproportional response... up to execution. This cop knows that if he witnessed anyone else kicking a woman/man in the head in such a disproportional response, especially to someone whose hands were tied behind their back, he would have himself arrested that individual with the same felony charge.
ReplyDeleteNot only should copdom be held to higher standards, their penalty for lawlessness should be double and even triple that of us mundanes.
copdom be held to higher standards,
ReplyDeleteAgreed.