Demoted Officer to Sue City for $800K

A Cranston, Rhode Island, patrolman is preparing to sue the city for more than $800,000 claiming he was tricked into accepting a demotion.

A letter from the lawyer of Officer Matthew Josefson dated Friday notifies the City Council of the potential civil rights lawsuit. It apparently stems from unsuccessful settlement negotiations.

Josefson is also seeking punitive damages against certain superior officers. If his claim becomes a lawsuit, that amount would be determined by a jury.

A state police investigation previously concluded that Josefson was pressured and swindled into accepting a demotion from sergeant to patrolman over trumped-up or trivial transgressions that were based on non-existent policies.

State police said Mayor Allan Fung was alerted of the demotion and the bogus charges in August 2014.