Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings on Sunday night disclosed the details of a $305,000 settlement agreement with the city and said he plans to retire at the end of the year.
Charlotte City Council agreed to pay Jennings in a closed session vote last month, after the chief complained about threatening text messages sent to him last summer by former City Council member Tariq Bokhari, in which Bokhari threatened to get him fired and ruin his legacy.
Jennings said in a statement Sunday that he decided to release the full details of his settlement — which the city had previously declined to do — in order to get a more complete story out.
The settlement includes a $175,000 lump sum, as well as additional cash for a retention bonus, 40 extra days of vacation time to be paid out when Jennings retires, a retroactive raise and $25,000 reimbursement for his legal fees. Jennings agreed to relinquish legal claims against the city in exchange.
North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek had opened an investigation into the city’s settlement with Jennings and its refusal to release any information to the public. On Sunday night, Boliek said in a statement that he’s glad the details of the settlement have been released, and that he looks forward to working with Charlotte to wrap up the investigation.
