
The Indianola City Council approved a settlement agreement with former Police Officer Jennifer Williams.
The action came after a closed session at Monday’s meeting. In 2024, Williams filed suit against the City of Indianola, Indianola Police Department, and Justin Keller, Rick Largesse, and Rob Hawkins in their official capacity.
Williams claimed that since 2016, the department’s male commanding officers had sexually harassed and discriminated against Williams, specifically Keller and Largesse. She also accused the department of unlawfully terminating her contract in 2023. Keller is no longer employed in relation to criminal charges of stalking another woman.
As part of the settlement, the Indianola Police Department denied liability for the claims made by Williams. The cost of the agreement is $500,000 — $10,000 for wages, $290,000 for the claims of emotional distress, and $200,000 for attorney’s fees. The lawsuit has been dismissed and the settlement was made by the city to avoid “the costs and risks of litigation.” The Iowa Communities Assurance Pool will be paying the costs via insurance.