A South Kingstown police lieutenant has filed a federal lawsuit against the town, its police chief, and the police department itself, alleging malicious prosecution after misconduct allegations that upended his career were ultimately dropped. James Krajewski, a lieutenant who had worked as a prosecution officer handling court cases, filed the suit in Providence, claiming he was falsely accused, suspended, and left with lasting damage to his health and reputation even after the department abandoned its case against him.
Suspension Followed Claims Tied to Charity Donations
The South Kingstown Police Department suspended Krajewski and fellow Lt. Bethany Dolock with pay in September 2025 amid misconduct allegations, according to turnto10.com. Sources told the outlet's I-Team that the lieutenants allegedly offered some people arrested on misdemeanor-level charges a chance to avoid court entirely in exchange for a donation to a local charity. That arrangement meant the arrested individuals were never charged, never appeared in court, and never had their names entered into the public court record, per the same report. Notably, the station reported there was no allegation that either officer personally profited — “There is no allegation that the officers enriched themselves. They are not charged with any crimes,” the outlet noted at the time.
Krajewski's lawsuit characterizes the case-resolution process differently, describing it as a longstanding departmental practice he inherited for resolving certain minor, first-offense cases through charitable donations, community service, or both — not a scheme he invented. He maintains he received no money from any of the case resolutions. The lawsuit also claims that both the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Attorney declined to bring charges against him after Police Chief Matthew Moynihan made contact with those offices, despite there being no actual criminal investigation underway, according to the suit.
Department Dropped the Allegations, but Stopped Short of Exoneration
The department ultimately dropped the misconduct allegations against Krajewski and Dolock after disciplinary hearings had already begun, citing what it described as unanticipated evidentiary and legal challenges, per the station's reporting. A department attorney told the outlet that the decision did not amount to an exoneration. Both officers returned to work, though in different roles, and were replaced in the court prosecution unit, the station reported. Rhode Island's own police disciplinary-record listing, maintained by rimpa.ri.gov, reports that the charges against Krajewski were withdrawn by the Town of South Kingstown.
Krajewski's suit claims Moynihan wrote in a letter to the I-Team that the officers' conduct constituted egregious administrative violations, and alleges the chief acted intentionally, maliciously, and with reckless disregard for Krajewski's rights. The suit further argues Moynihan had no legitimate disciplinary or law-enforcement purpose for pursuing the criminal allegation against him. Krajewski says he was told he was under investigation for a crime even though no criminal investigation actually existed.
Lost Pay, Health Toll, and a Second Lawsuit to Come
While suspended, Krajewski says he lost overtime pay, paid details, training opportunities, and promotional eligibility. His lawsuit also claims he suffered severe emotional distress, humiliation, anguish, depression, stress-related health issues, and elevated blood pressure as a result of the ordeal, along with what he describes as lasting harm to his reputation and future career prospects, including promotion opportunities and future law-enforcement employment. Through the suit, he is seeking damages as well as a public statement from the town clearing his name.
Dolock is expected to file a similar lawsuit, according to the station's reporting. Attorney Lisa Holley told the outlet Thursday that she planned to file a comparable suit on Dolock's behalf the following day. The station reported it contacted Moynihan Thursday afternoon for comment but had not received a response.
Union Tension and a Chief's Pending Retirement
The fallout from the dropped case has deepened friction between the department's rank and file and its top command. The officers' union previously voted no confidence in Moynihan back in 2024 and has since called for his removal following the collapse of the misconduct probe, according to turnto10.com's reporting. Separately, the officers had filed grievances seeking to be made whole for lost overtime and paid details tied to their suspensions, per ricentral.com.
In the wake of the case, South Kingstown adopted a new policy requiring that all criminal complaints be presented to District Court for adjudication, preventing cases from being resolved or dismissed without court oversight, the station reported. Moynihan is expected to retire from the department in early November, adding another layer of uncertainty to how the department moves forward amid the ongoing legal fights.
