COUNTY EXECUTIVE POLLITT APPOINTS COMMITTEE TO STUDY FEASABILITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ PENSION SYSTEM (LEOPS) FOR WICOMICO COUNTY
Wicomico County Executive Richard M. Pollitt, Jr. announced today that he has established a committee to study the feasibility and affordability of introducing the LEOPS (Law Enforcement Officer’s Pension System) retirement plan for Wicomico County Sheriff’s deputies.
The committee is composed of county staff directly involved in law enforcement and Human Relations. Committee co-chairs are Lieutenant Mark ‘Babe’ Wilson & Sergeant Mark Wagner. Both are with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Department. Pollitt added that Fruitland Police Chief Mike Philips, who just secured LEOPS for his department with the blessing and support of the Fruitland City Council, has offered to assist in a consulting capacity. Fruitland is the latest jurisdiction to offer LEOPS to its police personnel, joining a growing number of municipalities and counties across the Eastern Shore which include Cambridge, Chestertown, Hurlock, Princess Anne, City of Salisbury (police & firefighters), and Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Worcester Counties.
Pollitt said that, “Despite the current economic climate, I think it is crucially important to provide a pension plan for the brave men and women who serve us in law enforcement. We need to recognize the unique risks involved with their profession. Unlike most of us, when they leave home to report to work, there is always a chance they may not return. We need to do all that we can to not only secure the conditions of their retirement years but we also need to make our law enforcement jobs attractive to top-level candidates.”
As a result of the committee’s work, Pollitt hopes to include the LEOPS pension plan in next year’s operating budget.
16 comments:
Rick, Good Luck! LEOPS is very expensive, unfortunately your budget is not so accommondating. I don't think the County can afford this retirement system now, but it is a good campaign ploy.
I really want to get re-elected, so let me start a committee to study the fesibility and affordability of LEOPS. Wait, we can't afford that, yeah, but if it gets me re-elected, so what. I can say I tried. What a joke!
Now, I wonder if he would considered Leops for WCDC if the Sheriff Department receives approval.
Remember Mr. Pollitt, for EVERY person arrested via warrants, on views, district/circuit court commitments, detainers, etc. that are issued by the sheriff department, salisbury city police, maryland state police, DHS or any law enforcement agency; these people end up at WCDC.
Who deserve this entitlement more along with the Sheriff Department then the Coorrectional Officers at WCDC. They have to deal with EVERYTHING the arrest individual brings with them once they enter the detention center after dealing with these agency on a daily basis. Whether it is good, bad or indifference along with their family members seeking information, the Correctional Officers has to deal with the arrest frame of mind, body and health. Everyday, the Correctional Officers place their life on the line. What affects them also affects their family, friends and their life.
The Correctional Officers deserve this entitlement too if it is approved for Wicomico County Sheriff Department. I hope you will consider the other law enforcement agency; Wicomico County Detention Center.
Otherwise, who will speak for them.
Does seem like an election ploy.
Spend, Spend, Spend is all this Democrat knows. This is way to expensive and what is wrong with the plan they have now? They, along with other county employees get paid health ins for them and their dependents even when they retire.. No wonder we are broke.
Speed up- u r 3 minutes behind
How about canning the entire county pension system and going to a simple 401K with an employee match?
our deputies deserve this i work in the retail business, but i think they need this I dont want to see a deputy get hurt and lose everything they worked for these are the people that keep all of us safe and we need to take care of them also just think they are always one traffic stop or call for service away from not comming home they deserve this
well from what i understand some of this is paid by the deputies through their FOP dues
The County already has a 403B opportunity with what used to be a match of up to 6%. Many employees have both.
Anonymous said...
Speed up- u r 3 minutes behind
8:36 PM
Hey Joe, Grinch got you again!! He is also leaving comments and you don't even know it is him!!
Better get a loan from China, because you know the County can't afford the staggering cost of this retirement. The buy in would be around 4 million and then another 1.7 million or more per year!
The only reason the county couldn't afford to do it is if they weren't 100% vested in the program already in place. Wicomico County has a huge portion of unfunded liability in the current retirement system. They don't tell you this but it should have been paid up years ago. Call them and ask them. Ask them if the county's portion of the current retirement liability has bee paid in full. The current liability hasn't been paid and it will collapse should a large number of employees choose to retire at the same time. Does this sound familiar? Does it sound like Social Security? Past councils have failed in their fiduciary responsibilities and the taxpayers are left holding the bag. THIS is why the current council fought tooth and nail to oppose collective bargaining and LEOPS. The financial shortfalls of the county would have been exposed for all to see. Now Rick has opened this Pandora's box. Lets see the political wrangling that takes place to convince people that they are not seeing what they really see.
7:29 AM, Well spoken and you are correct. Rick is trying to get re-elected thinks the deputies have the votes to pull him through. Well, I can't wait to see how he cleans up this budget mess.
A round of applause for the show Rick. However, the County is in financial dire straights and you know it.
people that sign the back of checks would never understand
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