In exchange for leaving the police force and dropping a discrimination case against Des Plaines, the city gave $125,000 to Sgt. Matthew Hicks, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act.Hicks had been accused of a battery in Huntley, where he lives. He was also charged with internal misconduct by the Des Plaines police department, but that was withdrawn when the two sides agreed in late March that the 18-year police veteran would file for a non-duty related disability pension and retire on his 50th birthday.
At that time, neither the city nor Hicks would elaborate on the details of the agreement, which was recently obtained by the Tribune.