Former Des Moines police Maj. Lillie Parker received nearly $1 million as part of a settlement agreement that cites alleged emotional distress.
Des Moines City Council approved the settlement related to an employment claim for $975,000, according to a confidential settlement agreement obtained by the Des Moines Register through an open records request. The agreement cites a claim made to the Iowa Office of Civil Rights, the state agency that investigates civil rights complaints related to housing, employment and education.
Parker voluntarily resigned from her position with DMPD on Jan. 30 as part of the settlement. She also agreed not to discuss the terms of the agreement or the reason for leaving the department.
Parker’s claims are not detailed in the agreement, which says she was paid $507,211 not for lost income but to compensate for alleged emotional distress. She received an additional $126,803 and her attorneys at the Parrish Kruidenier Law Firm, $340,986.
The Des Moines City Council approved the settlement at its regular meeting on Jan. 26. In council documents, the city said: “Lillie Parker is represented by Attorney Alfredo Parrish from whom the city received a demand letter and with whom attorneys on behalf of the city negotiated regarding the demand letter.”
Through her attorney, the Register has been unable to contact Parker for comment. The Iowa Office of Civil Rights denied a request for a copy of Parker’s claim, which it said is not public under Iowa law.
And the City of Des Moines denied the Register’s request for the demand letter from Parrish, citing confidentiality. In the settlement agreement, the city does not admit fault.
“Instead, this Agreement constitutes a good faith settlement of disputed claims, and the City specifically denies each of Parker’s allegations of wrongful conduct and further specifically disclaims any liability for any cause of action alleged against the City by Parker including but not limited to any filing with the Iowa Office of Civil Rights,” the agreement states.
Parker, who joined the force in 1999, became the first African American female sergeant — and later, lieutenant and captain — to serve in the Police Department in 2009. Parker was a major who oversaw executive projects.
Parker was the only woman among the eight finalists in the running for the role to succeed Dana Wingert, who announced his retirement as police chief in 2024. City leaders ultimately selected Michael McTaggart, a 26-year Des Moines Police Department veteran.
Parker was not among the two finalists for the role of police chief, even though she was the top pick from the Des Moines Civil Service Commission, a committee charged with weeding out candidates.
The city has settled with employees of the Des Moines Police Department in the past. Notably, the City Council in 2024 approved paying out nearly $2.4 million to four female employees alleging decades of sexual discrimination in the agency. The female officers sued the department in 2021, alleging leaders failed to prevent or adequately respond to a wide range of misconduct, including unsolicited nude photos from male coworkers, sexist insults and unwanted touching and groping.
The Des Moines Police Department serves a population of more than 211,000 people. With 373 sworn officers and 105 civilian employees, the police department is the largest in the state of Iowa, according to the city’s website.
Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines settles with police major for alleged emotional distress
Reporting by Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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