HUMMELSTOWN -- Lisa Mearkle has resigned from her position as an officer with the Hummelstown police department, just more than two months after a Dauphin County jury acquitted her on all charges in the fatal shooting of 59-year-old David Kassick.

Mearkle has parted ways with the department under an agreement that leaves her with $120,000 in severance pay, according to a news release from the borough. The former veteran officer of the department also agreed to "a settlement and release of all claims against the borough."

"The borough has carefully weighed the cost and potential liability of additional legal proceedings and Council has come to a collective agreement that the resolution of this matter is in the best interests of the Borough, its residents and members of its police force," said Michael Miller, the borough's labor attorney, in a released statement.

Mearkle vowed to return to her position with the department in November after the jury found her not guilty of third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter for the fatal February shooting. The decision was delivered following a two-day trial in Dauphin County Court.

Some residents, however, were outspoken in urging council not to return her to active duty with the force, and they submitted an online petition reinforcing the standpoint to council on Nov. 12. The petition had about 4,500 signatures.

Mearkle, 37, shot and killed Kassick in February after he fled from her attempt to stop him for an expired auto inspection sticker. The fatal encounter occurred in back of the South Hanover Township home of Kassick's sister.

Mearkle shot Kassick twice -- one bullet passed through his mid back and another entered through the back of his left armpit region -- with one of the two gunshots ultimately killing him. She also fired her Taser, which caught video of the incident and lodged two fish-hooked probes into Kassick's jacket. One hook only "nicked the skin" and the device released an electric shock that left a mark on the man's back but did not fully immobilize him, according to court testimony.

The officer testified that she fired her weapon in self-defense because she believed Kassick was reaching inside his jacket for a weapon.

In December, Mearkle reached a preliminary agreement with the borough to leave the department, and Miller announced the formal agreement at the Borough Council Workshop Meeting Thursday night.

In his statement, Miller said the council members "have spent many hours discussing all of the issues relating to Ms. Mearkle's employment status."

"Council is mindful of the cost connected with this or any settlement but the uncertainty, cost and effect on this community of additional litigation was also a significant factor in its decision," he said.

The borough, Miller added, cannot discuss the issue in its entirety because Hummelstown remains a defendant in a civil action brought against it.

"It is the Council's hope that this decision will be another step in the process of moving forward for the Borough and its residents," he said.

Editor's Note: This post has been updated to include the specific locations where Kassick suffered gunshot wounds.