Settlement Agreement with Police Chief Made Public

The settlement agreement between the town of East Hampton and Police Chief Matt Reimondo is official.

Under the agreement, Reimondo will receive $200,000 and his attorney, Leon M. Rosenblatt, $75,000. In exchange, Reimondo agrees to drop all lawsuits, claims, charges and grievances against the "East Hampton released parties."

“A business decision was made, there was no admission of guilt and the insurance company will pay $237,500 and the town will pay $37,500, which is very favorable,” Town Manager John Weichsel said.

Reimondo expressed appreciation for the support he has received from residents and looked forward.

"It's taken nearly a year to bring these issues to a close, but I'm pleased to finally put this chapter of my professional life behind me and continue to proudly serve the citizens of East Hampton - free of legal and political distractions," the chief said in a statement. "On behalf of myself and my family, I once again thank the citizens of East Hampton for their continued support."

The council voted unanimously in executive session on April 12 to make an offer to Reimondo to settle his pending legal claims.

Lawyers for both sides began negotiating, finally arriving on a tentative agreement on May 31.

The council discussed the proposed settlement in executive session on June 14 and again on June 27 before approving it on June 28.

Reimondo was abruptly laid off from his position as police chief on June 22, 2010. Jeffrey O'Keefe, then the town manager, said the decision was for budgetary reasons.

In August, the chief filed a civil suit charging that, in an effort to prevent him from investigating sexual harassment allegations made against O'Keefe, certain town officials retaliated by eliminating the police chief position, saying in his complaint they "combined and conspired to create a scheme."

O'Keefe has since resigned, leaving with a $170,000 severance package in September, and Reimondo was reinstated after the issue went to referendum in November. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the chief, 3,701 to 1,617.

Reimondo's lawsuit named O'Keefe, Melissa Engel, John Tuttle (the town council vice chair) and police Sgt. Michael Green, who at the time had been promoted to Lieutenant to fill a new position that would oversee the police department.

Other claims Reimondo had against the town were: Reimondo et al v. Town et al – Docket No. MMX-CV-10-6003363S, and four CHRO complaints (Reimondo v. Town, CHRO No. 1140141; Reimondo v. Tuttle, 1140142; Reimondo v. O’Keefe, 1140143; and Reimondo v. Engel, 1140144.