In a split vote, the Paterson City Council voted against paying a retired police chief $34,857 to settle his workers' compensation claim, the Paterson Press reported.

Councilman Michael Jackson

James Wittig said he fell down the stairs at the police station in 2011, one year before he retired. He said he filed a report "as soon as it happened," though one councilman doubted the existence of such a report. Wittig said the city added treads to the staircase to prevent slippage several months after he fell. 

Councilman Michael Jackson said he did not believe Wittig. "There was no evidence proving he fell. No one saw it. He didn't go to the hospital. There was no report made," he told the Press.

Jackson said he was also concerned about the fact that, to his knowledge, Wittig did not seek medical care from a source outside his own family. His sons, who are physicians, treated him.

Three members of the nine-member council voted against the settlement, while three voted for it. Three were not present. The city's law director said he would ask the council to reconsider Wittig's settlement when more members are present.