Bloomingdale to pay former chief $19K

BLOOMINGDALE, Mich. (WOOD) - The village of Bloomingdale has agreed to pay a $19,000 settlement to its former police chief, who was suspended after a conviction for assaulting his wife.

In exchange, former chief John Josten has agreed to sign a letter of resignation dated May 22, 2009, his last day on the job.

The village will pay $9,000 and its insurance company through the Michigan Municipal League will pay the remaining $10,000, village trustee Thomas Barczak said.

"It's what we offered him in the spring before all this blew up," Barczak told 24 Hour News 8 on Thursday.

The village council approved the settlement Tuesday. It calls for the chief to drop the lawsuit he filed against the village over his suspension.

Josten alleged the council suspended him without the 30-day notice required by his contract.

His attorney, Douglas Merrow, said Josten has agreed to the settlement.

Josten, who has a history of assaults, was suspended without pay after he assaulted his wife -- Allegan County Deputy Jodi Josten -- in April.

He allegedly threw a glass during an argument that hit his wife in the shoulder.

Josten pleaded guilty, was given up to one year probation and ordered to pay $415 in fines and other costs. But the case will be dismissed if he completes court-ordered therapy.

He received a year of probation for assault and battery in 1978 in Portage, and was charged in 2004 with assaulting a man. That case was dismissed after he was placed on prosecutorial probation.

Josten's suspension divided Bloomingdale, a village of 500 people in northern Van Buren County, leading to recall petitions that were approved against three council members. The recall election is set for Feb. 23.

A successful recall could lead to Josten's re-hiring, Merrow said.

"I understand he's got very strong backing in the community," the attorney said. "His performance there has just been stellar."