Fired Des Moines police officer gets $25K settlement

Des Moines is paying $25,000 to settle an employment discrimination lawsuit filed by a police officer fired after an investigation determined she made false claims.

Catch up fast: Officer Lourdes Hadenfeldt alleged that a driver swerved at her and hit her with the vehicle's mirror in 2019.

• But charges against the driver were dropped and Hadenfeldt was fired after an internal investigation determined Hadenfeldt had not been struck.

State of play: She was later denied unemployment and her termination was upheld by the Civil Service Commission.

• A Polk County district court in 2021 upheld and affirmed her termination.

Yes, but: Hadenfeldt alleged that other DMPD employees in similar circumstances had previously received lesser or no discipline.

• The only difference, she alleged, was that they were white males while she is Hispanic, according to the lawsuit.

The latest: The city agreed to the settlement shortly before a Feb. 27 trial, court records show.

• The City Council then approved the payment during a meeting last night.

What they're saying: Charles Gribble, an attorney for Hadenfeldt, declined to comment.

• DSM city manager Scott Sanders tells Axios the settlement was to "fully and finally resolve" litigation linked with Hadenfeldt's termination.