The disability scam (Why is a top FDNY triathlete and marathoner receiving disability pension?)

Retired FDNY Lt. John McLaughlin probably should be paying taxpayers for his remarkable fitness as a top long-distance runner, given his years of strenuous work as a firefighter.

Instead, as The Post's Carl Campanile reported yesterday, the 55-year-old "Iron Man" triathlete is collecting an $86,000 disability pension from taxpayers.

No wonder New Yorkers are increasingly fed up with public employees, as a fascinating poll last week found.

Since retiring in 2001, McLaughlin has run numerous marathons and other races, often finishing near the top -- and first or second in his age group.

He's "an incredibly fast runner," a fellow athlete says. "He runs like the wind."

Well, fast enough to get to the bank. McLaughlin managed to work a diagnosis as -- get this -- an asthma victim with reduced lung capacity, qualifying him for an $86,000-a-year disability pension.

Not that his diagnosis was particularly unique: Some 80 percent of firefighters and chiefs who retired last year -- four out of every five -- did so on disability.

McLaughlin "is a poster child for what's wrong with the pension system," says Carol Kellerman, head of the Citizens Budget Commission.

He's also a walking (er, running) reason why 56 percent of city voters say union employees aren't "doing their fair share to ease New York City's financial problems" -- as a Quinnipiac University poll last week found.

Even among union-member households, the poll found, 42 percent say public employees aren't helping out enough.

Overall, more than nine out of 10 respondents say budget woes are "serious"; two-thirds see them as "very serious."

This is happening throughout our Country.
There are countless people who have never paid into social security ... yet they are receiving benefits ... usually after they have hired a lawyer. I’ve seen these people be very active mentally and physically functioning very well.
There’s no reason these people can’t work ... they are what I consider “line breakers” ... they are jumping ahead of all us good “boomers” who’ve worked and paid into social security for decades. Nobody addresses Social Security Disability fraud when they talk about Soc. Sec. going bankrupt.

Well well well, it's finally hitting the light of day.

I personally know of a “retired” NYPD cop who blew his knee out in a Sunday morning softball game. Went to work on Monday and claimed he fell down the stairs of his precinct. He retired on 3/4’s. White-Irish-American. His wife, also a cop, but a minority, sued the NYPD for discrimination, and for her troubles was assigned to the shooting range at Rodmens Neck. Cush job.

I personally know of a “retired” cop who caught his finger on his front door, went to work, and claimed he hurt his finger in a filing cabinet mishap. Since it was his “trigger” finger he was retired on 3/4”s. You ALL saw him on the national nightly news as an “expert on terrorism” in September 2001. Total dumb phoney who now chairs our CIVIC association.

I personally know of a “retired” fireman, who claimed he was injured in the line of duty, and now is able to fully focus on his primary, private business as construction contractor, a mucho lucrative concern. He was able to buy out his neighbors million dollar waterfront property, and level it, so he'd have a bigger yard. ON A RETIRED FIREMANS SALARY? (His father-in-law was a big shot in the Bronx Democrat Party).

Now, I'm just an insignificant nobody, with no proof of nuthin. But I know what I know. One more case:

A highly decorated, well respected, cop. He belonged to an elite unit of the NYPD. His claim was that he was assaulted and injured in the line of duty. Result: Out on 3/4’s plus Social Security disability, for life.

The reality was that he was injured when his VW Beetle was in a head-on collision, causing his injuries. How do I know? I was married to the bum. BUT, I did not find out the truth till after I divorced him. How did I find out? My brother was his best friend, but kept his secret. (Still haunts my brother till this day).

What in the hell is wrong with OUR Society????? These 4 guys were not minorities. These 4 guys collected, and are collecting 10’s of thousands of OUR dollars!

RE: I worked 42 yrs in industry, finishing at a much higher level of responsibility than this guy and get about half of what he does for pension.

The irony is news like these makes one wish they were not that healthy... talk about turning things upside down.

I wonder how this guy was able to get away with it.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.