How much Caldwell is paying to settle sexual harassment suit against police chief
The city of Caldwell has agreed to shell out over a million dollars to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit against the police chief.
City officials agreed to settle a lawsuit filed against the chief of police in exchange for $1.5 million, along with “significant non-monetary relief” aimed at clearing former Caldwell Police Officer Allison Butler’s “good name and reputation as a dedicated law enforcement officer,” her attorneys announced Thursday.
Butler, who has since left the agency, accused Police Chief Rex Ingram in a federal lawsuit of making “offensive” and “gendered” comments about her appearance — engaging in a pattern of “inappropriate, gender-based, sexual, possessive and retaliatory behavior.”
“While Officer Butler is pleased with the settlement, she wishes she never had to bring a lawsuit in the first place,” her attorneys, Erika Birch and Chad Johnson, wrote in a news release on behalf of their client.
She accused the chief of violating her civil rights by creating a hostile work environment, discriminating against her and retaliating against her when she reported the discrimination and harassment. The lawsuit was also filed against the city and its police department and Jarom Wagoner, who was the mayor at the time.
Caldwell officials announced the settlement in a two-sentence news release, confirming that the parties had “mutually agreed to settle,” adding that they are “glad they could reach a resolution.”
