ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS — Former Police Chief Michael Cioffi is walking away with more than $587,000 after his retirement at the end of January — a retirement that coincided with the settlement of a federal lawsuit he filed against the town in 2016.

The Borough Council approved the settlement at its Jan. 24 meeting, along party lines, and the agreement was later approved by both Cioffi and council President Gloria Oh.

Under the settlement, Cioffi, who served as a police officer for 42 years, will plead guilty to conduct unbecoming an officer.

The borough's labor attorney, Mark Ruderman, said Cioffi will face a 90-day suspension. Those days will be deducted from his accrued time. He also waived his right to attorney fees.

That's something Councilman Ed Aversa, who serves as the Police Committee chairman, said he's happy about.

“The 90-day penalty saved the borough $82,662.30 plus another approximately $250,000 or more dollars in legal fees, which he absorbed as well, so the borough doesn’t have to pay that amount, either,” he said.

Mayor Mario Kranjac doesn’t see it that way. He called the settlement “one more example of rewarding corruption.”

“It should never have happened,” Kranjac said. “He should have been held accountable for what he said, including the death threats.”

Kranjac is referring to controversial secret recordings made by Cioffi. Those recordings came out as part of the discovery process of the federal lawsuit. The recordings captured the chief talking to employees while on duty, in order, Cioffi has said, to protect himself from harassment by the mayor.

Cioffi will be paid for 150 unused sick days, 408 unused vacation days, 26 personal days, six months of terminal leave, 16 scheduled days and 17.75 hours of overtime, minus 90 days deducted for his suspension. His estimated payout will be $587,820, distributed in three installments, the first this month and the other two on Jan. 2 in 2020 and 2021.

He will also receive his pension and full benefits.

Cioffi released a statement through his attorney Ryan Lockman that he is “pleased with the outcome of the settlement.”

“He is very proud of his career and is looking forward to retirement,” Lockman said.

Why was the suit filed?

Cioffi initially filed the lawsuit in July 2016, alleging that his suspension earlier that year was illegal and politically motivated.

The chief was an ally of the then-Mayor Joseph Parisi Jr., and he alleged he was placed on administrative leave in April 2016 as a result.

In his initial complaint, Cioffi named Kranjac as well as then-council members Carrol McMorrow, Nunzio Consalvo and Mark Park. Cioffi claimed he was a victim of retaliation for exercising his right to free political speech and for engaging in political speech and activities for candidates running against the politicians in power.

The police chief also alleged that Kranjac had attempted to interfere with the administration of his department.

Over the course of the last 30 months, several lawsuits involving Cioffi, Kranjac and the borough have been filed in Superior Court. Cioffi was also suspended for insubordination when he refused to use his accrued time off.

Email: sobko@northjersey.com; Twitter: @katesobko

This story was altered from its original format to correct the name of the council defendants.