A week ago, UOPD police chief, Carolyn McDermed, abruptly left her position just days before a federal judge was to reconfirm a $755,000 jury award against her and her department. The case stated that the jury believed she unlawfully retaliated against a complaint from an employee about her leadership. About $1.5 million in damages and attorney fees is prepared to be paid on this case.

There were four months left in McDermed’s contract when she stepped down. According to the Oregonian, the University of Oregon paid her $46,000 to leave her position. This includes her salary for the remaining for months with two weeks of accrued vacation, though spokesman Tobin Klinger declined to say why they wanted her gone so badly that they were willing to pay that.

The departure is still being characterized as a retirement.