Central Pa. city pays officer $82k to resign after they say he mocked George Floyd killing

Pennlive ^ | 8 July A.D. 2022 | David Wenner

[lightman]

York officials on Friday said police officer Clayton Swartz will receive an $82,000 settlement after agreeing not to return to work for the city.

In 2020, Swartz was accused of reenacting the death of George Floyd during a party. A police department trial board found him not guilty and he was never charged with a crime.

However, the city planned to take the case to Commonwealth Court before recently concluding the trial, scheduled to start next week, would cost the city more than $250,000, according to a news release.

In the news release, Mayor Michael Helfrich said, “I stood my ground on this issue because of the importance of these allegations to our community, and the findings of our internal investigation that Mr. Swartz should no longer be representing the York City Police Department. Facing continually increasing litigation costs, which have already amounted to over $230,000 in attorneys’ fees, and the potential for another $250,000 in upcoming litigation expenses, the resignation of Mr. Swartz in exchange for his lost backpay was a great win for York City.”

The city called the settlement “a highly successful outcome for the city.”

Ed Paskey, a lawyer who represented Swartz during the department’s investigation, didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment on Friday night.

[lightman]

Important background:

1) The Mayor of York who vigorously pressed this case is a RINO who won election by changing parties after a primary defeat.

2) The Mayor of York was convicted some years ago of selling hallucenogenic mushrooms

3) The star witnesses to this alleged mocking of St. George of Fentanyl were three young "ladies" who were under the influence.

4) The Police internal affairs/misconduct review board unanimously dismissed the case as unfounded.

[lightman]

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[Still Thinking]

What a ripoff! I’d mock Floyd way cheaper than that.

[hanamizu]

“...he was never charged with a crime.”

---

The implication being that he really should have been charged. Mocking the martyrdom of St. George of Fentanyl, the mind recoils at the horror of it.

[lightman]

He’s at a party...off duty.

Another partier (now related to him by marriage) was passed out drunk on a couch.

Swartz shakes him in attempt to wake him.

The partier exclaims “I can’t breathe!”.

[bantam]

Sh!thole York can pound!!!
That place suks almost as bad as Filthadelphia!
Hope this guy guy goes one town down and gets a new job!!

[Candor7]

In other words Clayton Swartz received an actors fee from York of 82K for both acting and writing “ The re=enactment of the Death of George Floyd.” He should immediately proceed to New York and organize it into an off broadway play.

It will be a hit.

[T-Bird45]

I’d say the officer settled way too cheap yet I see the sense in just choosing to move on with some of their money in my pocket.

[Ex gun maker.]

As a trained officer from a large metropolitan department he will be able to take his pick of new employers.

Pretty common for cops to become unemployed for some petty to serious issue, then be cashed out.
Often enough it is a minor, or psyche, “On the job injury” and early retirement at half pay.
Then they move on to another department at full pay while still collecting early retirement from the first gig.
This can be repeated more than once.

[moovova]

“...and the potential for another $250,000 in upcoming litigation expenses...”

At a $82k settlement, it sounds like Mr Schwartz left money on the table.

[Toddsterpatriot]

However, the city planned to take the case to Commonwealth Court before recently concluding the trial, scheduled to start next week, would cost the city more than $250,000

Charging him with what? Reenacting the death of George Floyd during a party?

When did that become a crime?

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

A highly successful deal for the city but another liberal buttf**k for the taxpayers. That’s how Dems think. As long as they get their pay and perks, the peasants can eat crap.

[bigbob]

I’d do it as many times as they want for only $10K each, that’s a bargain.

[redinIllinois]

$10,K is a great deal, right?

[Flick Lives]

“...he was never charged with a crime.”

—

Exactly what would be the crime? Mockery?

[Angelino97]

As a trained officer from a large metropolitan department he will be able to take his pick of new employers.

I dunno. Plenty of police depts. are woke. And if a private security firm is discovered to have hired him, the Twitter mob will descend on that company until it caves and fires him.

[riverrunner]

I know officers that were wrongfully fired took a cash settlement.

Then went to have long careers with other departments and retire.