The University of Cincinnati announced today that it has settled a legal dispute with former UCPD officer Raymond Tensing over Tensing's firing following the shooting death of unarmed black motorist Samuel DuBose in July 2015.
According to a statement released today, UC will pay Tensing $244,000 in back pay and $100,000 in legal fees after Tensing challenged his dismissal from UC's police department. In exchange, Tensing will abandon his contractual grievance and cease seeking a return to his job.
Tensing's grievance, brought by the Ohio Labor Council of the Fraternal Order of Police, claimed that Tensing's firing was unlawful because UC did not go through proper disciplinary hearings before firing Tensing. The grievance sought reinstatement for Tensing and back pay with benefits.
Tensing shot DuBose in the head during a routine traffic stop in Mount Auburn. After the shooting, UC fired Tensing and he was indicted by Hamilton County prosecutors on murder and manslaughter charges.
During the trial, key elements of Tensing's story — that DuBose's car was moving when he pulled his weapon and that Tensing's arm was tangled in DuBose's steering wheel — were disputed by experts who viewed body camera footage and other evidence. Despite this, two juries could not agree on a verdict for the officer.
The shooting and the trial brought national attention to Cincinnati and sparked a number of large local protests.
"I realize this agreement will be difficult for our community," UC President Neville Pinto wrote in a statement. "I am nevertheless hopeful that we can focus on supporting each other as members of the same Bearcat family — even, perhaps especially, if we don’t agree. That culture of care is what our community not only needs but also deserves. It starts with each of us."
You can read UC's settlement here.
