Crime & Safety

Stacy Bailey, Canton Lawsuit Settlement Pending

Although the former Canton Police Department sergeant will be compensated for her firing, this settlement does not pertain to the original allegations surrounding her.

The former Canton Police Department sergeant who was fired after an internal investigation into her alleged inappropriate purchase of a golf cart with Young Explorers funds has reached a tentative settlement with the city after filing suit against the city last year.

Stacy Bailey, who appealed her termination on the grounds that the internal investigation completed by the Marietta Police Department was biased against her and sued the City of Canton claiming that she was denied overtime pay and merit pay, will receive $60,000 from the city under the terms of the proposed settlement.

The Canton City Council will discuss the settlement and give final approval for the financial compensation to Bailey during their next meeting on May 2.

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Despite the potential payout, the circumstances that led to the investigation and Bailey's termination from the force were beyond the scope of the settlement.

Bailey was accused of using her power as the financial overseer of the Canton Police Department's Young Explorers program to purchase a specialized golf cart for the special needs son of the man she was having an affair with. Both Bailey and the board of the Young Explorers say that no inappropriate financial actions took place and that the organization was on board with Bailey's purchase.

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Additionally, an investigation conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) concluded that Bailey had not acted criminally by purchasing the golf cart. 

Along with overseeing the Young Explorers program, Bailey was at the head of the radKIDS program, which taught Cherokee County children self-defense in the wake of the Jorelys Rivera tragedy in 2011.

The sergeant was terminated from her position with the department in November, 2012, and a subsequent appeal for reinstatement was denied by City Manager Scott Wood.

Bailey sued the City of Canton, alleging that she had not received overtime pay that she was entitled to, and that she was denied merit pay increases that other officers received for achieving the same goals.

Instead of going to court, all parties involved have decided to settle for $107,000, of which Bailey will receive $30,000 in "alleged unpaid wages," and a further $30,000 in "alleged liquidated damages." Bailey's attorney Lance LoRusso will receive the remaining $47,000. The settlement agreement is attached to this article.


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