City Council approves $36,000 transfer to fund settlement in police dog-bite case

The Lawrence City Council voted to approve an appropriation transfer of $36,000 from the stabilization reserve for litigation to the city's judgment account to fund a settlement in a dog-bite case.

City Solicitor explained that the transfer was necessary because the judgment account had been depleted after changes tied to Proposition 2'.5 and that the matter relates to a training incident in which a police dog escaped and bit people. The solicitor said claimants had sought up to $100,000 each and the city negotiated the amount down to $36,000.

Councilors moved and approved the transfer during the council's Jan. 7 meeting after suspending Rule 11 to bring the item from committee. The roll call recorded the motion as carrying; the presiding officer announced the motion carried.

The action was described as a settlement appropriation only; no additional policy direction or changes to department practice were recorded during the discussion.

Council President Rodriguez presided over the vote; the clerk called the roll and the motion was recorded as carried by the council.

The council took no separate public testimony on this agenda item during the meeting. The city solicitor said the matter had been negotiated to avoid higher exposure and requested the appropriation so the city could fund the settlement.