Midland City, Ala. — A federal lawsuit filed by former Police Chief Jimmy Singleton against Midland City has been resolved following a settlement, according to an order filed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Jershua Adams on Tuesday. Attorneys for both parties reached an agreement, leading to the cancellation of a mediation session scheduled for Wednesday.
The dispute began in December 2023 when Singleton filed a lawsuit against the city, accusing Mayor Cynthia Gary of failing to compensate him for overtime hours worked during his tenure. Singleton, who was hired as police chief in 2021, alleged that he repeatedly raised concerns with Mayor Gary about his long working hours and the lack of overtime pay. In response, the mayor reportedly agreed to amend his contract to ensure he would be paid hourly, with overtime benefits kicking in only after 50 hours of work per week.
Despite the agreement, Singleton claimed that by the time he was dismissed from his role in September 2023, he had accumulated over 2,000 hours of unpaid overtime. Additionally, Singleton said he had not been compensated for any accrued sick or vacation time.
The details of the settlement have not been disclosed, but Judge Adams ordered both sides to file a formal settlement agreement by Thursday. The cancellation of the mediation session marks the end of a months-long legal dispute between the former police chief and the city.
