City of Greeley pays out $262,500 settlement after former police officer alleges discrimination and other complaints

By Kelly Ragan

At a recent meeting, Greeley City Council voted to approve a $262,500 settlement with a former employee over a lawsuit that alleged discrimination among other complaints. 

The employee, Rebecca Ries-Walter, filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Division and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, according to city documents.

Ries-Walter was a full-time employee of the city working as a police officer when she left the role in December 2021. 

According to a report by the Greeley Tribune, Ries-Walter began working for the Greeley Police Department around 2011.

City council did not discuss the agreement with Ries-Walter during the meeting, instead voting to approve the settlement as part of the consent agenda on Sept. 20. The city agreed to pay the $262,500, split into three payments. 

 The first chunk, $36,400, represents six months of alleged lost wages, according to city documents. 

The second chunk, $126,350, is to be paid out for alleged personal injury, emotional distress, and non-economic harm. 

The third chunk, $99,750, is set to pay for Ries-Walter’s attorney’s fees and costs. 

As part of the settlement, Ries-Walter agreed not to make statements or take action to disparage the city, according to city documents. 

Ries-Walter served as the Greeley Police Department’s public information officer and social media coordinator before Kent Keller took over the role in 2019. According to a report by the Greeley Tribune, Ries-Walter returned to being a patrol officer. 
Ries-Walter also gained notoriety for winning a gold medal in World Police and Fire Games for archery in 2013, even earning recognition from the city’s Greeley Unexpected marketing campaign.