HAMILTON — Former police officer Michael Marchand, the whistle-blower in the EMT training fraud scandal that rocked this small town, will receive nearly $1.3 million in a settlement announced late last night.
Marchand filed a lawsuit in 2008 against the town, claiming that his civil rights were violated.
After years of making its way through the courts, Marchand's settlement totals $1,285,000, carries a release of all claims and has no expression of fault — meaning neither side was found liable.
"This closes a chapter for a very difficult time for all parties involved," Town Manager Michael Lombardo said last night. "It's very good to have this behind us."
The amount of Marchand's settlement was made public just after 10 p.m., after selectmen gave it final approval in a closed-door executive session.
In 2008, Hamilton made headlines as four people — including the former police chief, his son-in-law and a former Ipswich selectman — were indicted and charged with fraud in connection with claiming credit for EMT recertification, even though the courses were never held. Marchand was the officer who alerted authorities to a pattern of EMT training fraud in the department.
Staff writer Bethany Bray can be reached at bbray@salemnews.com and on Twitter @SalemNewsBB.
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