Champaign City Council members Tuesday approved a second excessive force lawsuit settlement involving Police Officer Matt Rush, this one for $225,000, but only after an hour of emotional public comments and a march by activists through the downtown streets, calling for Rush to step down and face criminal charges.

The City of Champaign has announced a second proposed settlement to a lawsuit over excessive force involving Police Officer Matt Rush.  On Tuesday, the city council will vote on the proposed $225,000 agreement, stemming from Benjamin Mann's complaint.  The council approved a $25,000 lawsuit settlement in a seperate incident last week.

The Champaign Police Department tried to fire Officer Matt Rush last year, after a string of citizen complaints and lawsuits, but an arbitrator changed the dismissal to 34 days of suspension, and he remains on duty.

Seven weeks after approving the concept in study session, the Champaign City Council voted 6-3 Tuesday night to allow its police department to use Tasers.

The Champaign City Council voted 6 to 3 to direct city staff to come up with a council bill that would change the police department's Use-of-Force policy to allow the use of Tasers.