COMPA president: City settles wage claim with former MPD sergeant

The city has settled a claim of unpaid wages filed by former Maricopa Police Sgt. Aki Stant, according to an email sent to the press by Elliot Sneezy, acting president of the City Of Maricopa Police Association (COMPA).

In June 2010, Stant filed a claim for $840 for in lost wages he claims were not paid after he was placed on administrative leave.

According to the complaint, Stant was ordered to remain home from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by former Police Chief Kirk Fitch.

Stant served 16 days at nine hours a day on administrative leave. Stant’s overtime wage was $52.50, so he should have been paid $840 for 16 hours of overtime, according to the claim.

At the prescribed time, Stant signed and submitted his time sheets, which were to reflect up to five hours of overtime each week. After the time sheets were submitted, Lt. Larry Eckhardt, at Fitch’s direction, reduced Stant’s work time from nine hours to eight hours per day. Eckhardt then signed Stant’s name on the time sheets and submitted them, according to the claim.

Stant's attorney, James Cool, said Monday his client's settlement with the city is subject to a confidentiality agreement.

On Friday, Fitch, who is now assistant chief, announced he will retire Dec. 15. Eckhardt, who has been on paid leave since July 22, returns to work Monday while the internal investigation on him continues. The city has not said why Eckhardt is being investigated.

Sneezy said Sunday he did not know the amount of the settlement, and emphasized this claim is separate from Stant’s $1.5 million suit against the city for his termination in November 2010.