VIDEO: San Jose cops opposed to “retention problem
“This is a smoke screen to take attention away from the Measure B problems, away from the police exodus problems. It’s really a disingenuous effort at this point.” – Jim Unland, President, San Jose Police Officers Association
The “officer retention” program is already drawing fire behind the scenes. Critics say it’s a bad version of an old idea that won’t solve the staffing crisis and may create new problems.
Hundreds of San Jose police officers have quit over the city’s pension reform efforts. To stem the tide, the San Jose Police Department, with support from the mayor and city officials, plans to offer retiring cops a deferred retirement option program, called DROP. In essence, the officer retires, but their pension is put in a trust fund so they can work two or three more years without paying into the retirement system. Then, when they actually leave, they get that pension money in full.
The police union said the city rejected similar proposals before, including one once used in San Francisco, and called the latest version politically motivated and “desperate.”
“What if the officer who’s now ‘retired’ but still working is seriously injured?” Sgt. Jim Unland, president of the San Jose Police Officers’ Association said to NBC reporters. “This is a smoke screen to take attention away from the Measure B problems, away from the police exodus problems,” Unland said, “and it’s really a disingenuous effort at this point.”
Watch NBC news report with comments from Jim Unland and read the story.
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