City of Bainbridge Island approves settlement agreement with departing police commander

Bainbridge Island Police Commander Sue Shultz will get a severance package worth two months of pay, according to her separation agreement with the city.

Bainbridge Island Police Commander Sue Shultz will get a severance package worth two months of pay, according to her separation agreement with the city.

Shultz resigned Dec. 14, the day after an outside investigation was released that looked at allegations of gender discrimination. While the investigation said Shultz, the Bainbridge Island Police Department’s top commissioned officer, had treated two female officers more negatively than others in the department, the investigation did not find evidence of gender discrimination.

Shultz signed a separation agreement Friday with the city. The three-page agreement was approved by City Manager Doug Schulze.

Shultz, who joined the Bainbridge Police Department in 2007 and was promoted to commander in 2010, earned an annual salary of $119,172.

The severance package would include a lump sump payment of roughly $19,800 for two months of pay.

Shultz will also be paid for her unused vacation time, and she will be eligible to continue receiving medical, dental and vision benefits for 18 months after her last day.

Her last day with the city will be Jan. 2.

According to the agreement, Shultz is expected to file for unemployment insurance, and the city has agreed to not oppose her collection of unemployment compensation.