The City Council on Wednesday approved a $3.2 million settlement in a case brought by an 18-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department who alleged he was forced out of the department through retaliation.
Officer Richard Romney had sued the department, alleging he was subject to retaliation because of his testimony in a case brought by another officer against the department regarding officers being forced to work overtime without pay.
A jury had recommended the city pay $4 million to Romney.
During that case, Romney testified officers often had to give up their 45-minute lunch break to respond to calls in South Los Angeles. He said requests for overtime would be ignored by superiors because of the city's budget situation.
A short time after he testified, Romney said the LAPD opened an inquiry into whether he had violated the department's policy on overtime.
Former Police Chief William Bratton had overturned a recommendation that Romney be given a one-day suspension, instead recommending he be fired.
Officials are concerned the case could have far-reaching repercussions in other legal actions filed by officers over the overtime pay issue.
The Romney case was filed under the Fair Labor Standards Act governing when workers are entitled to overtime.
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