Des Plaines cop sues city

A longtime Des Plaines police officer has sued the city.

According to the Cook County circuit court website, Sgt. Matthew Hicks filed a lawsuit Monday. It is unclear what exactly the lawsuit is for, although there are reports Hicks is still owed $14,000 by the city as part of a deal for him to drop claims that he was wrongfully discharged.

The city agreed last year to give Hicks — and 18-year employee — $125,000 if he dropped the claims and agreed to retire upon turning 50 years old in December 2014. Hicks has been on disability leave since a 2009 automobile accident.

Hicks was suspended with pay by the department after he was arrested in April 2010 and charged with domestic battery. In August 2010, he was suspended without pay.

Then in April 2011, following the agreement to award Hicks $125,000, Des Plaines police dropped the seven internal misconduct charges they had against him. A few months ago, Hicks was acquitted by a McHenry County court on counts of domestic battery and related charges.