The city of Champaign has permanently terminated police officer Matt Rush after two-and-a-half years of appeals and litigation. City Manager Dorothy David announced the $50,000 separation agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police at the conclusion of Tuesday's Champaign City Council meeting. Rush was twice fired by the city, and was the subject of multiple excessive force lawsuits, costing the city more than $300,000 in settlements.

Illinois' Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council says a reported internal investigation involving Champaign Police Officer Matt Rush, the subject of four excessive force lawsuits, is not related to his actions on duty.  "It is a direct result of the intense negative publicity and inaccurate public statements stemming from his prior case," said General Counsel Tamara Cummings.