St. Paul City Council approves $45K to motorist struck by speeding squad car in 2009
The officer,
The driver,
Anzures, now 56, filed suit against the city and Giampolo, alleging the officer "drove in a negligent manner."
The city, while denying liability, agreed to settle because they recognize Anzures "sustained significant injuries from an accident involving a city vehicle," said City Attorney
The city attorney's office did not represent Giampolo in the lawsuit and her personal insurance company agreed to pay
Anzures' vehicle was struck by Giampolo's squad car at
Giampolo, whose last name at the time was Ward, braked before the crash and her speed at impact was estimated at 35 mph, according to the criminal complaint charging her with two misdemeanors at 2010.
About 45 minutes before the crash, Giampolo requested to leave her patrol district on a "personal matter" and was allowed to do so, the complaint said. Giampolo left the city to get keys for her fiancé, then-Police Chief
Smith wrote to the officer that she had been traveling 70 mph in a 30-mph zone "for no emergency or law enforcement reason. This is clearly the use of extremely poor judgement on your part and reckless driving conduct." He suspended Giampolo for 25 days.
Immediately after the crash, Giampolo used her cellphone to reach her fiancé -- an off-duty
Giampolo radioed to ask for a case number for a crash, but didn't tell the dispatcher it was a squad crash and there were injuries, Smith wrote. Her supervisor arrived less than two minutes later, found Anzures "trapped and injured" in her vehicle and called for paramedics, the letter continued.
Both drivers reported they had a green light at the time of the crash, according to the complaint. Smith wrote to Giampolo that she "did not have control of the intersection" at the time.
In 2010, Giampolo entered an Alford plea, meaning she maintained her innocence while acknowledging the state likely had enough evidence to convict her, "to duty to drive with due care -- speed greater than reasonable." A charge of careless driving was dismissed.
In a filing in the lawsuit, attorneys for Giampolo argued the city was required to defend her, saying she "was acting in the performance of her duties as a police officer at the time" and there was no allegation the crash was intentional. Her attorney could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
But the city attorney's office said state requirements "for defense and indemnification ... could not be met due to (the officer's) conduct at the time of the accident," according to a judge's summary in a court order.
Giampolo, who started on the
In
She is now assigned to the department's juvenile unit.
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