CAPE MAY – It happened again.
Cape May reached a settlement agreement with another police officer, costing the city and its insurance carrier a combined $275,000, $91,665 of which will be paid by the taxpayers.
The July 2017 suit, filed by Patrolman Douglas Henderson, was related to long-standing litigation between the city and former Police Chief Robert Sheehan. That suit was settled, in February 2018, for $800,000, of which $440,000 was paid by the city and the rest by its insurance company.
Henderson was a key witness for the city in a 2016 administrative proceeding against Sheehan for failing to properly qualify with a firearm seven years prior, in 2009, when his two qualifying tests that year were not spaced by the required number of months set by state regulations.
A 7-year-old violation of this type might never have produced an administrative hearing if the city and Sheehan were not already involved in a heated, public exchange of legal maneuvers over Sheehan having been removed as chief of police, in 2015, one day before his probationary period ended.
Henderson claimed his testimony for the city at the hearing led to harassment, loss of opportunities for overtime pay, and failure to be considered for promotions. The settlement was approved by City Council, at its April 21 meeting. In addition to the $275,000, the agreement further states that Henderson “shall irrevocably retire” in good standing, effective June 1.
Henderson must dismiss his lawsuit with prejudice and provide a general release of all claims. The settlement does not constitute an admission of liability by the city.
In October 2016, the city agreed to a $369,000 settlement, with a former gay police officer, who accused the city of discrimination.
In October 2015, the city reached a settlement with then Lieutenant Chuck Lear hours before an administrative hearing, regarding the city’s accusation that Lear misused compensatory time in ways forbidden by his contract, was set to start.
Lear, a 37-year veteran of the force, received a six-month extension of his contract and the ability to cash out six weeks of contract vacation time before officially retiring. He then decided to run for mayor, defeating the incumbent in the November 2016 elections.
Given this history, it was not surprising that Solicitor Frank Corrado took a moment to tell council members this settlement “concluded the police litigation that began even before this suit.”
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
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