Posted on 02/25/2005 9:02:23 AM PST by NormsRevenge
The California Highway Patrol's explanation for a high rate of disability claims among its chiefs doesn't add up, according to a report released Thursday by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.
The report recommends that the Legislature require the CHP to investigate why 80 percent of its chiefs get medical pensions, compared to about 60 percent of rank-and-file officers.
A CHP report in October noted the discrepancy but suggested it was because chiefs retire at later ages with more years of service - factors that could lead to a higher rate of workplace injuries.
But the Legislative Analyst's Office, in its annual examination of the budget released Thursday, found that captains and lieutenants, whose retirement ages and tenure are comparable to higher-ranking chiefs, nonetheless have lower medical pension rates.
"Chiefs are significantly higher than everyone else," said Paul Steenhausen, the analyst who did the report. "They don't really address the issue of why it's so much higher."
The Bee reported in September that since 2000, 80 percent of chiefs pursued workers' compensation claims within two years of retiring. About 150 CHP chiefs supervise 7,000 lower-ranking officers.
These workplace injury claims often lay the groundwork for an industrial disability retirement that shields half of pension income from taxes. The Bee's investigation described several cases in which the medically retired chiefs went on to demanding second careers.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I've known several of each.
Generally speaking, after you get past the rank of sergeant, you don't see much action. The chiefs I have known have all been over-weight.
And the jokes go on!
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