Baltimore police officer Jacqueline Folio has settled her lawsuit against the Baltimore Police Department, police Commissioner Leonard Hamm, and two former police lawyers, Sean Malone and Karen Kruger. Folio, who was charged, tried, and acquitted of perjury charges that arose from a police sting in which she was set up to commit a false drug arrest (“
Cop Out,” April 6), filed suit against the department in April (“
Absent With Cause,” Mobtown Beat, May 11). She argued that Hamm, Malone, and Kruger had illegally conspired to remove her from her job.
Under the settlement, which was approved by the city Board of Estimates on Aug. 3, both sides deny any wrongdoing. Folio, though, appears to have gotten everything she wanted: a clean, clear, and amicable retirement, complete with a well-wishing letter from Hamm and payment of her attorney’s fees. (Clarke Ahlers, who represented Folio, will be paid $17,500 for his efforts.) Folio’s police file will be purged of all matters relating to the sting, and she will be covered by the city for any possible claims brought by the falsely arrested party, Leon Burgess.
In return, Folio must refrain from making any disparaging comments about Hamm, Malone, and Kruger.
“These communications would include, but are not limited to, the motive for settling this matter, a party’s alleged involvement in the circumstances involved in this matter, and/or the character, ability, or reputation of a party,” the settlement agreement states. City Paper’s previous coverage of the Folio case already contains a heavy dose of such commentary, though the motives behind the settlement remain shrouded in secrecy.
Folio, in an e-mail, declined to comment about the settlement.
