Troy Meade, Everett Cop Who Shot Niles Meservey, Fired by Everett Police Chief, But Leaves $184,000 Richer
The last chapter in a sad saga that began more than two years ago was written this week. 
Troy Meade, the Everett police officer who, on June 10, 2009, shot 51-year-old Niles Meservey seven times in the back, killing him, was fired by Everett Police Chief James Scharf.
But while Meade may need to find a new job, he can take heart that for the last 24 months that he's been sitting at home not working, he's managed to rake in $183,984.87 in tax-funded salary.
Responding to a public records request by Seattle Weekly, Everett Public Information Officer Kate Reardon today provided a figure for the compensation Meade has received since the shooting and during his subsequent suspension with pay.
Reardon also provided a letter written by Chief Scharf to Meade explaining the firing.
Scharf too is leaving the EPD, though his exit comes as his own decision. Prior to firing Meade, Scharf had ordered that no internal investigation be conducted into the shooting. But after public pressure built to launch an investigation, he did.
It would appear that Meade's firing is the result of that investigation.
The shooting at the root of the case happened at the Chuckwagon Inn two years ago. Meade and another officer had shown up at the Chuckwagon's bar and found Meservey drunk and attempting to drive his car home.
Troy Meade and Chief Jim Scharf in court.
Meservey wouldn't listen to anyone tell him not to drive. And the officers made a couple attempts to get the drunk man out of his car, including Tasering him twice, but eventually Meservey tried to back up and drive away.
That's when Meade said "Enough is enough" and shot the man seven times in the back--killing him.
Meade was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter, but eventually acquitted. He was later found to be civilly responsible, and the city of Everett was forced to settle a claim with Meservey's family for $500,000--on top of about $640,000 spent on Meade's defense.
Where Meade will go now is unknown. But the fact that he's had two years to sit around getting paid, one would think that he'd at least have a headstart on a new career path.
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