The city paid out $17,000 last year after a Cape Coral police officer was demoted and penalized following an investigation into a traffic stop that she ordered.

On June 18, Sgt. Georgeann Lytle ordered two fellow officers to conduct a traffic stop on Kayla Holder, Kristin Randazzo, Brian Wigenfeld and a fourth person as they left the parking lot of a downtown bar, where they worked.

The officers checked the licenses of the four individuals, and about 20-25 minutes later, the group was told that they could leave. Neither of the two vehicles involved were searched. No one was arrested, nor given a citation.

On Aug. 18, the city provided Holder with a $10,000 check to release Lytle, the other two officers and the city from any potential claims. Randazzo and Wigenfeld each received a check for $3,500.

"In this case, the city was well aware of the incident," Connie Barron, the city's spokeswoman, wrote in an e-mail Thursday. "We conducted our own investigation and determined that it would be advisable to resolve any potential claim emanating from this incident."

At the time, the three had not filed a notice of intent to file a lawsuit.

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