Interim Police Chief Named
YAKIMA -- Yakima has a new temporary police chief, after Sam Granato resigned. He is Capt. Greg Copeland, the acting deputy chief and a 20 year veteran of YPD. His tenure is expected to be short. Another temporary chief is expected to be named this spring.
In the meantime, a lot of you have been asking why the city is giving Sam Granato $100,000 in his severance package for retiring.
So we took your question to city manager Dick Zais.
"This was part of a severance package that we agreed to. We wanted to ensure that there was no question that there would be any potential claims filed against the city of Yakima or any of its officials. And so, he's given us a full release of any claims that he could make against the city of Yakima."
Bottom line, severance packages for top city officials almost always include a payout to protect the city from the much greater expense of a lawsuit. Because whether or not a suit has merit, fighting it could cost taxpayers a lot more than $100,000.
In the meantime, a lot of you have been asking why the city is giving Sam Granato $100,000 in his severance package for retiring.
So we took your question to city manager Dick Zais.
"This was part of a severance package that we agreed to. We wanted to ensure that there was no question that there would be any potential claims filed against the city of Yakima or any of its officials. And so, he's given us a full release of any claims that he could make against the city of Yakima."
Bottom line, severance packages for top city officials almost always include a payout to protect the city from the much greater expense of a lawsuit. Because whether or not a suit has merit, fighting it could cost taxpayers a lot more than $100,000.
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