Cranston police major settles federal civil rights lawsuit against city for $300,000

The city of Cranston has reached a $300,000 settlement with a police major who filed a federal civil rights lawsuit saying he was the target of a vendetta and harassment campaign by the former police chief.

Maj. Todd Patalano said in an August 2014 lawsuit that former Chief Marco Palombo filed seven bogus disciplinary complaints against him, and other officers gave perjured testimony against him. Patalano also accused Mayor Allan Fung of not doing anything to stop the harassment.

Under the terms of the settlement, neither side admits to any wrongdoing.

Fung's chief of staff says in a statement that the city has denied the allegations but settled because of "the high cost of litigation."

Patalano says he's glad the matter is finally behind him.