The Ramsey County Board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a total of $750,000 to settle with two Sheriff's Office employees who claimed that Sheriff Bob Fletcher retaliated against them when one challenged him in the 2002 election.
Lt. John H. Moore, 49, and former Sgt. Joyce Shockency, 54, sued the county and Fletcher in federal court in 2004. The suit survived the defendants' efforts to have it dismissed and was headed for trial in April after the U.S. Supreme Court declined last month to review an appeal.
County commissioners agreed to settle "to avoid going to trial, piling up legal fees and facing a potentially higher settlement," said board Chairwoman Jan Parker. The county admits no wrongdoing, she said.
In addition to the $750,000 lump-sum payment to Moore and Shockency, the agreement calls for the Sheriff's Office to pay Moore his regular salary, vacation and retirement benefits until March 6, 2009, at which time he will resign. Moore is on leave until then.
He supervised 80 deputies as head of an investigative unit in the patrol division when he decided to challenge Fletcher's reelection bid and was reassigned to the apprehension unit, according to the lawsuit and his attorney, Nicholas May.
Moore will "likely begin another job in law enforcement in the near future," May said.
Shockency, who marched in parades and was a vocal supporter of Moore, was transferred in February 2003 from her post as the highest-ranking officer on the midnight shift to the midnight transportation unit, a job with less responsibility.
She retired in September 2004 "because she couldn't take it anymore," May said. "Essentially she went to work and did nothing. She felt valueless, worthless. ...
