CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — The Circleville City Council voted in favor Wednesday evening of separation and release agreements between the city's mayor and the former police chief and deputy chief who were each at the center of alleged misconduct investigations.
All council members voted in favor of the separation agreements for Shawn Baer and Doug Davis, except Council Member Zach Brooks.
The council is allowing Baer to retire and Davis to resign.
In a statement, the city said, "The decision to enter into Separation Agreements with Chief Baer and Deputy Chief Davis was made to avoid further disruption in the City's Police Department and minimize future legal costs incurred by the City."
According to documents released by the city, Baer will receive $70,000 from the police department, plus more than $24,000 for unused, accrued vacation, personal and sick time.
Davis will receive $69,000 from the department, plus more than $14,000 for unused, accrued vacation and personal time.
"I think our citizens would much rather see us investigate these matters instead of us give them a payout and move on,” Brooks said.
Both agreements also state the city will cease its internal investigation into the allegations of potential misconduct, but Brooks believes the investigation should be taken to a higher level.
"I hope that the state gets ahold of these guys and looks into all of the things that they've been accused of because I think that there's more than enough there to put them away,” Brooks said.
Baer, who was working as the Circleville police chief, was first placed on administrative leave on March 11 after officials began to investigate allegations of potential misconduct. In a letter obtained by 10TV last month, Mayor Michelle Blanton wrote to Baer that he was accused of the following:
- Harassment
- Intimidation
- Retaliation
- Threats of discipline
- Misuse of position
- Improper expenditures
- Failure to adhere to deadlines
- Timekeeping violations
Baer was placed on leave with pay.
Two weeks later, acting police chief Davis was also placed on administrative leave due to an investigation into alleged employee misconduct.
The city did not specify the situations in which the allegations against Baer and Davis originated.