Council hears law-department explanation for $650,000 police-related settlement

Detroit ' Council members in the Committee of the Whole asked for additional follow-up after the law department explained why the city agreed to a proposed $650,000 settlement in a police-related lawsuit.

The settlement, summarized during line item 5.8, was described by Graham Anderson of the City Law Department as the product of "different interpretation of the facts" and negotiations that included "some judicial influence pushing a settlement in this matter, which resulted in the settlement." Anderson added, "juries are unpredictable as I've communicated in the past."

Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway pressed the law department for clarity on legal representation and indemnification for the defendant officer in the case and asked whether the officer had been disciplined. Anderson told the committee the department had approved legal representation and indemnification for the defendant officer but that differing factual interpretations and negotiation dynamics ultimately led to the settlement rather than a trial.

Callaway said she would follow up with the police chief on whether the officer involved received discipline, and the committee asked for a closed-session follow-up and documentation on discipline and any RNI requests related to the case.

The committee voted to send the settlement to the formal session with a recommendation to approve. That referral moves the settlement request forward for a formal vote; it does not itself finalize payment.

Ending: Council requested additional information from the Law Department and the police chief about discipline and the indemnification decision; the settlement will next appear in formal session.