The Wright City government has agreed to pay former police chief Matt Eskew six months of severance pay, over $33,000, in exchange for Eskew agreeing to not pursue any legal action against the city, according to an agreement acquired by The Record.

Eskew served as police chief since November 2013, and was an officer with the Wright City Police Department since 2007. Eskew abruptly resigned on June 15, without any prior public indication of his departure. The Record has now learned June 15 was the day Eskew signed a resignation and severance pay agreement with the city government.

The cause of Eskew’s resignation, and any reasons he might have to seek legal action, are not being disclosed by city officials. In fact, the agreement between Eskew and the city specifically forbids the disclosure of such information.  The Record obtained a copy of the agreement through a request under the Missouri Sunshine Law.

Under the terms of the agreement, Eskew will be paid The Wright City government has agreed to pay former police chief Matt Eskew six months of severance pay, over $33,000, in exchange for Eskew agreeing to not pursue any legal action against the city, according to an agreement acquired by The Record.

Eskew served as police chief since November 2013, and was an officer with the Wright City Police Department since 2007. Eskew abruptly resigned on June 15, without any prior public indication of his departure. The Record has now learned June 15 was the day Eskew signed a resignation and severance pay agreement with the city government.

The cause of Eskew’s resignation, and any reasons he might have to seek legal action, are not being disclosed by city officials. In fact, the agreement between Eskew and the city specifically forbids the disclosure of such information.  The Record obtained a copy of the agreement through a request under the Missouri Sunshine Law.

Under the terms of the agreement, Eskew will be paid $33,977 over the course of six months, along with payment of up to $4,157 for Eskew to participate in the COBRA health coverage program for people who lose their health insurance.

In exchange for those payments, Eskew has agreed to permanently release the city and its representatives from any legal action arising out of any decisions or conduct that occurred prior to the agreement, according to the document. 

A confidentiality clause in the agreement forbids either Eskew or the city from disclosing the events leading up to Eskew’s resignation, or even discussing the existence of the agreement except in very limited circumstances.

However, in response to The Record’s Sunshine request, city officials did say that there are no records of disciplinary action against Eskew in the 18 months prior to his departure.

When asked about the reason to continue paying a former employee for six months after their departure, Wright City Mayor Dan Rowden said the considerations for the agreement are a confidential personnel matter and that he isn’t at liberty to discuss them. Asked why the agreement requires such strict confidentiality, Rowden said that, too, is confidential.

The mayor has appointed police Lt. Tom Canavan to serve as acting chief until the city government selects a new head for the police department.

“We wish Mr. Eskew well ... and we want to reassure the citizens that the police department is in good hands,” Rowden said. “I’ve met with the department and officers, and everybody is looking forward to moving forward and having the best department we can have.”

City leaders are currently trying to decide how they want to conduct their search for a new chief – what qualities they’re looking for, and what search methods to use. In the meantime, city leaders have expressed confidence in Lt. Canavan’s ability to guide the police department.

“He is not only professional, but extremely capable of making sure the baton does not fall. We’ve been in close communication with him and are pleased with what he’s been doing,” commented Board of Aldermen President Ramiz Hakim. 

Ahead of the search for a new chief, Hakim said the aldermen want to hear from their staff officers.

“I think that’s something we are most interested in speaking to our patrolmen about. I think their opinion on (a new chief) is the most valuable – what they’re looking for, and what in the department do they want to see more of, and what in the department they want to see less of,” Hakim said. 

“I’m very optimistic for the future of our police department. We’ve been rated as one of the top 20 safest cities in Missouri for a number of years now, and I expect that to stay the same and progressively get better under Lt. Canavan or any future chief,” he continued.