ST. LOUIS, MO —
Former St. Louis County Police Lt. Col. Troy Doyle has reached an $867,500 settlement in his long-running racial discrimination lawsuit against St. Louis County.
The agreement resolves a case that raised questions about race, leadership opportunities and the process used to select the county’s police chief.
According to St. Louis Public Radio reporter Rachel Lippmann, Doyle states that he was passed over twice for the chief’s position because he is Black.
His 2021 lawsuit claimed that political pressure and concerns among corporate donors about appointing a Black police chief influenced the selection process.
How the Settlement Is Divided
Under the agreement, Doyle will receive $50,000 for lost wages and $464,846.90 for emotional distress and other non-wage damages.
His attorneys, Dobson Berns, LLC, will receive $352,653.10 for legal fees, expenses and costs.
The agreement states that insurance will cover the settlement.
St. Louis County has denied wrongdoing and made no admission of liability.
The settlement resolves the lawsuit without a trial verdict determining whether discrimination occurred.
Doyle’s lawsuit states that County Executive Sam Page initially supported him as the successor to then-Police Chief Jon Belmar.
According to the statements, Page later withdrew his support amid concerns from corporate donors about having a Black police chief.
Page later stated that Doyle had been his choice for police chief and expressed respect for Doyle’s years of public service.
The lawsuit further states that the Board of Police Commissioners selected Mary Barton instead.
After Barton retired in 2021, Doyle claimed that the department failed to conduct an open application process for the next chief, preventing him from applying.
Doyle retired from the St. Louis County Police Department in March 2023 and became Ferguson’s police chief shortly afterward.
The case also carries a substantial legal price tag.
St. Louis Magazine reported in April 2026 that the county’s outside attorneys had invoiced $889,448 in defense fees at that time.
When combined with the settlement, those previously reported figures total approximately $1.76 million, although the final defense costs and ultimate public financial impact have not been independently confirmed.
The settlement brings the litigation to a resolution, but it does not provide a judicial determination of discrimination.
The agreement also includes a broad release of claims, confidentiality provisions and a condition stating that Doyle will not reapply for employment with
St. Louis County.
