Right by Miles
Two teenage boys are in a car chase with a reckless, sexually perverted Polk County sheriff’s deputy. The boys crash, killing Miles White, 16. But the sheriff’s office does not investigate its deputy’s involvement. Why?
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TALLAHASSEE — With support from police unions, a bill that would ban "double dipping" by police officers in a popular state retirement program was approved unanimously Thursday by a Senate committee.
Jim Spearing, a lobbyist for the Florida Police Benevolent Association, was critical of a handful of state employees who have taken advantage of a loophole in state retirement laws that allows some employees to "retire" and return to the same job.
"We can't stop everyone, but we want to stop our own because it's wrong, morally and ethically, to game the system that way," Spearing told the Senate Community Affairs Committee.
The bill would prohibit officers from returning to work for the same agency as an employee of a private company. Any public agency found in violation would be forced to repay any retirement benefits received by an officer.
The action comes on the heels of several St. Petersburg Times reports on double and triple dipping by elected officials and state employees who have found they can take home a salary and a retirement check.
More than 8,000 state employees are double dipping, and another 131 are triple dipping, taking home two pensions while back at work collecting a state salary.
Several states prohibit public employees from returning to the public payroll or dramatically limit the amount of money that can be made by a retiree.
The Senate bill, sponsored by Carey Baker, R-Eustis, also would allow police officers and fire department employees to receive special risk benefits to extend the time they spend in the Deferred Retirement Option Program, called DROP, from five to eight years.
Legislators approved the DROP program in 1998 to encourage high-ranking public employees to retire and open the way for younger, lower-paid employees to replace them. Instead of leaving their agencies at the end of the five years, many have taken 30 days off and returned to the same or similar jobs.
Baker's bill would extend DROP provisions only for officers from the rank of captain on down.
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee approved the bill earlier this month. A similar bill pending in the House has not been heard in committee.
Other bills are pending that would prohibit elected officials from drawing a pension and a salary, but they have not been heard in committee.
[Last modified: Mar 28, 2008 11:53 AM]
Comments on this article
by Jim
Mar 28, 2008 11:53 AM
How is it unethical to draw income from money already earned and for performing job functions? The money is spent either way.
by Chris
Mar 28, 2008 11:53 AM
Gee, you'd think that if DROP was intended to be an incentive for younger people to fill positions, the older ones would not have been able to come back. Sounds like supply never met demand. That's not the "double-dippers'
by Me
Mar 28, 2008 11:52 AM
So, why is it ok then for someone to retire say, military, then work somewhere else and retire, then get another job... same difference. so how bout' we all get just shot at any retirement and not be allowed any other job ever-after.
by Ted W.
Mar 28, 2008 8:58 AM
Let's hear if for the Po-lice!
by JM
Mar 28, 2008 8:58 AM
Now if we can get the politicians to stop dipping.But that won't happen because it is easier to cut back on Medicaid and other programs that don't affect the theive politicians.
by Debbie
Mar 28, 2008 8:58 AM
Well done. A nice example. However, I'm sure that those that are benefitting the most from their double and triple dipping will not give it up unless forced to. Regardless of how unethical or morally wrong it is. This is a no-brainer!!
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