Mattawa reaches agreement with city’s former police chief

The Mattawa City Council approved and ratified Mattawa Mayor Maggie Celaya’s settlement agreement with former police chief Joe Harris during a city council meeting Thursday.

Celaya fired Harris on April 9, after placing him on administrative leave. City officials and Celaya haven’t disclosed why Harris was fired.

No details of the settlement agreement were released by press time. Details also weren’t discussed during the city council meeting.

Harris’ lawyer, Bill Gilbert of Spokane-based Gilbert Law Firm, has not responded to the Columbia Basin Herald for comment. He said at the time of the firing Celaya was attempting to push Harris out and she had a personal ax to grind.