The agreement comes just days before the trial was set to begin.
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond’s former interim police chief William “Jody” Blackwell will return to the department and receive his full pension after reaching an agreement with the city to withdraw his $5 million wrongful termination lawsuit against Mayor Levar Stoney.
Blackwell will return to his former role as police major, according to his attorney Scott Crowley, the position he served in before Stoney tapped him to be the interim chief in the summer of 2020 amid ongoing racial justice protests in the city.
In July 2021, Blackwell sued Stoney and former chief Gerald Smith claiming he was fired out of “retaliation” for refusing an order from the mayor during his 11-day tenure as interim chief.
A joint stipulation of dismissal was filed in Richmond Circuit Court on Wednesday, just days before the parties were set to meet for the trial. The agreement states that Blackwell is formally withdrawing “all claims and allegations made” in the lawsuit.
“Major Blackwell has formally withdrawn all of the allegations and publicly made statements relating to the pending claim against Mayor Stoney and former Richmond Police Chief, Gerald Smith,” a statement issued on behalf of Blackwell reads. “In doing so, Major Blackwell would like to express his sincere gratitude to the City of Richmond for allowing him to continue to serve the residents of Richmond. He is excited and grateful to return to the RPD under Chief Edwards’ leadership.”
In his lawsuit, Blackwell claimed he was fired seven months after his time as interim chief for not following an order as interim chief from Stoney to have officers stationed around the city’s Confederate monuments as contractors removed them.
The lawsuit, which the city tried multiple times to have dismissed, argued that following Stoney’s request would have left Blackwell and police officers open to criminal liability because it would have violated a law in place at the time prohibiting authorities from disturbing or interfering with any monuments or memorials.
Blackwell, who claimed he was fired not long before he was set to receive his pension, asked for $5 million and to be reinstated as a police major.
“The parties agree each party will bear its own fees and costs and that neither party will be deemed a prevailing party,” the order reads.
It’s unclear what Blackwell’s role will be under the deal, but he’s expected to receive his full pension, according to Crowley. A city spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Court filings in the case revealed previously unknown details about Stoney’s account of Blackwell’s resignation as interim chief after 11 days.
In a private conversation with Blackwell, Stoney claimed he voiced concern in the wake of “controversy and public outcry” over a 2002 shooting in which Blackwell fatally shot a man while working as a police officer in the city.
In a court filing, the mayor alleged they both agreed Blackwell would return to his former position as major.
A grand jury heard evidence and Blackwell was not charged in the shooting, but Stoney faced questions about his decision to have Blackwell serve as chief amid civil unrest and protests in Richmond in the summer of 2020 where officers and demonstrators clashed in the wake of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Stoney said he was aware of the shooting before naming Blackwell interim chief and publicly defended him after details resurfaced, saying he believed Blackwell was “the man to get the job done” after former chief William Smith was ousted.
