MARQUETTE - Forsyth Township Police Chief Brad Arnsparger has left his position after a recent settlement with Forsyth Township, according to Arnsparger's attorney, Steven Pence of Marquette.
Pence, Arnsparger, township officials and township attorney Kevin Koch met twice recently with a mediator, agreeing on a comprehensive settlement July 1 that ended Arnsparger's employment with the township, Koch said.
Details of the settlement were not available from any of the parties involved due to a confidentiality agreement in the settlement.
Arnsparger and Forsyth Township Supervisor Chris Adams deferred any comment on the settlement to the respective attorneys.
Pence said the settlement resolved all issues between the township and its former chief of police.
"I think both parties are pleased with the result," he said.
Koch agreed, saying the settlement brought an end to a long-term issue.
"This thing is done, Brad is moving on, and it is good to have everything resolved," he said.
Arnsparger said he regretted leaving the township, but has made new plans.
"Regretfully, I'm leaving the Forsyth community I've policed for over 11 years," he said. "My plans include a move to the western Pennsylvania area, where I have already been offered employment."
Arnsparger had been off work since the end of January on stress leave, Koch said.
Near the end of March, Pence said the leave was due to unfriendly working conditions and the township and Arnsparger were then making efforts to resolve the issue, though they were unsuccessful.
In August, the township settled a lawsuit brought by Arnsparger alleging the township had laid Arnsparger off in 2005 in retaliation for a worker's compensation claim he had filed for a back injury.
Arnsparger was laid off for more than a year from August 2005 to November 2006. The layoff began during a voluntary agreement by township employees to reduce their hours or rotate weeklong layoffs among employees because of a tight general township budget.
At the time of his layoff, Arnsparger had just returned from a 9-week medical leave due to a back injury. That lawsuit was settled by the township paying Arnsparger $100,000. At the time of the 2007 settlement, the former chief had been off work for three months on stress leave, but returned for the rest of 2007.
The township continued to struggle with its police department, laying off an officer in this year's budget. During public discussion of the layoff, township board Trustee Mike Jakubowski said the department's budget had taken a $50,000 cut as a result of the township's expenses in the previous settlement with Arnsparger.
Koch said it was unknown whether the township would initiate a search for a new police chief at this point, or what the future of the police department might be. Sgt. Ron Kangas is acting chief of the department, but could not be reached for comment.
