Minneapolis council reaches agreement with ex-police chief for $183,000

Chief resigned six days after police shot
woman who had called 911 about sexual assault 

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council has approved a separation agreement with the city’s former police chief, who resigned in July after a police officer fatally shot an Australian woman.

The council approved the $183,000 agreement Wednesday with Janee Harteau. It doesn’t include a clause that would have barred Harteau from making disparaging comments about Mayor Betsy Hodges and other officials and prohibited them from publicly criticizing her.

Hodges said such clauses are common in separation agreements, but she agreed to remove it after receiving criticism.

The council unanimously approved a resolution prohibiting non-disparagement clauses for public employees, according to the Star Tribune.

Harteau resigned on July 21, six days after an officer fatally shot Justine Ruszczyk Damond, who had called to report a possible sexual assault behind her Minneapolis home.