The former police commissioner in Springfield, Massachusetts, has received a payment from the city after his abrupt departure last week.
Mayor Dominic Sarno announced last week that John Barbieri was retiring, effective immediately.
Barbieri left with $234,221.
Sarno said the retirement was by "mutual agreement." But the payout suggests the split may not have been quite so mutual.
According to Barbieri's contract, he's due some of that money because he parted ways through "termination or suggested resignation."
Springfield City Councilor Orlando Ramos said he only found out about the payment on Monday — but that the city had no choice but to pay Barbieri.
"Well, I mean, it's a contract, and so he's entitled to the money under the contract," Ramos said. "I don't believe that the commissioner left voluntarily. I don't believe it was the commissioner's choice to retire abruptly. I think he would have given us notice."
Barbieri's exit comes as an increasing number of Springfield police officers face state and federal charges.
On Monday, Sarno said in a statement that Acting Comissioner Cheryl Clapprood had informed him "she will be reviewing new evidence...involving past incidents of misconduct to consider whether new charges could lead to terminations."
