[Timber Rattler]

McDonald said the Slaton Police Department will issue an apology as long as the mother agrees not to file a lawsuit. He said unless she is compensated for her expenses and the trauma she's been through, a lawsuit won't be out of the question.

This police department screwed itself.

[justlurking]

McDonald said the Slaton Police Department will issue an apology as long as the mother agrees not to file a lawsuit.

Sorry, but it doesn't work that way.

If an apology is warranted, issue it. Discipline the people that are responsible for this. Compensate the woman for her expenses. Drop the charges and expunge her record. Document your changes in policy to make sure this doesn't happen again.

If you do all this, then maybe she won't sue you. But, that's her decision to make, not yours.

[sargon]

McDonald said the Slaton Police Department will issue an apology as long as the mother agrees not to file a lawsuit.

That statement pretty much guaranteed a lawsuit...