A Nassau County legislative committee approved legislation on Monday offering a retired Black police officer $650,000 to settle her claims of false arrest and discrimination.
This comes after WSHU reported last week that Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder allegedly used a racial slur to describe the officer. Through a lawyer, Ryder denied using the racial slur.
On the day WSHU posted the story, the county attorney drafted legislationproposing a settlement, stating that after investigating the case “it is in the best interest of the county to make an offer”.
The plaintiff in the case, Dolores Sharpe, was arrested in 2013 on charges of harassment and resisting arrest. Despite serving as an officer for two decades, she said she was targeted because she is Black. She was acquitted and later sued for $24 million.
During depositions for the case, the arresting officer said Ryder blamed him for losing the criminal case and that he would be retaliated against. Claims which Ryder’s lawyer said were untrue.
