Minneapolis city leaders have begun signing off on large workers’ compensation packages for dozens of police officers who left the department after the death of George Floyd and subsequent civil unrest.
Attorney Ron Meuser says he represents about 200 men and women, the vast majority who took an oath to serve and protect, but now they claim injuries suffered over the last year make that no longer possible. Some of those injuries are physical, while others are mental, including post-traumatic stress following the police killing of George Floyd, the rioting, and torching of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Third Precinct, Fox 9 reports.
Meuser is currently settling workers’ compensation packages with City Hall as his clients officially leave their jobs, including one for $250,000. The city is spreading out the payouts over several years to ease the financial impact. One council member told FOX 9 the mass exodus of officers is alarming.
The council began signing off on the settlements last month. Meuser estimated the settlements average about $175,000 each.