Three Jersey City cops facing charges over last year's high-speed pursuit have returned to modified duty after initially being suspended without pay.

Now that the officers — Lt. Keith Ludwig and officers Eric Kosinski and Francisco Rodriguez — have been reinstated, the city won't be on the hook for back pay in case they skate on the charges, which range from official misconduct to attempted murder. The trial for the three men, who have all pleaded not guilty, is not expected to start until next year.

The city's decision to put the officers back on duty came days after all charges were dropped in a separate case involving two other cops who had been suspended without pay for more than two years because of allegations of a no-show jobs scheme.

Asked about the city's move, Kosinski's attorney, John Lynch, said, "I'm happy for him and I think it's the right decision."

A fourth officer charged in the high-speed pursuit case, MD Khan, was fired for unrelated reasons before he was indicted in the high-speed pursuit case.

City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione characterized the city's move as the implementation of a new policy that says suspensions for public safety employees who are arrested or charged with a crime will be capped at 30 days, with some exceptions.

"At that time, the department will conduct a thorough evaluation, which will include evidence if the outside arresting agency will share," Wallace-Scalcione said in an email. "With this replacement policy, the potential for back pay will be minimized, and taxpayers will be getting the 40 hours of work put in from the public safety employee."

The case against Khan, Kosinski, Ludwig and Rodriguez centers around the June 4, 2017, pursuit that ended in a fiery crash on Tonnelle Avenue. Eyewitness video of the aftermath of the incident appears to show officers assaulting an innocent bystander who was set ablaze by the crash.

The accused cops in the no-show jobs case were Lt. Kelly Chesler, Officer Michael O'Neill and retired cop Joe Ascolese. Prosecutors on Wednesday dropped the charges against Chesler and Ascolese after the judge overseeing the case dismissed the charges against O'Neill on Oct. 12.

Chesler and O'Neill have returned to duty. Their attorneys said they are seeking back pay from the city. Ascolese said he has asked a state pension board to reinstate his pension. They all are seeking reimbursement of attorney's fees from the city.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.