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Pensions: 'I Am A Retired Detroit Cop. I Hope This Will Not Happen To You.'
DeadlineDetroit ^ | Oct 30, 2013 | Brian Lawrence

Posted on 11/07/2013 2:36:09 PM PST by bkopto

I am a retired Detroit Police Officer and this is my story. I hope this will not happen to you.

I joined the Detroit Police Department in 1986. At that time the city had an agreement with the federal government that made Detroit Police officers ineligible for social security and Medicare. We were led to believe that this was to our benefit. We were told that we would be taken care of upon retirement with a pension and health care.

Today, this is no longer true. Because of the bankruptcy filing by the city of Detroit, the Emergency Manager has stripped me and my fellow officers of our health-care coverage and is trying to void our pension income.

I spent more than 23 years with the Detroit Police Department as a patrol officer. I patrolled the streets of Detroit. I answered calls for service. I did not have an administrative job, nor was I an executive. I have seen some really horrific scenes and fought against the worst violent acts that most people cannot even imagine.

I have uncovered babies from shallow graves, responded to domestic-violence incidents, armed robberries, and murder scenes. I have discovered heads blown off, double ax murders, and mummified bodies in abandoned buildings.

I have saved people from being killed. I have found lost children and returned missing relatives to safety when they wandered, were carjacked, or were taken away by force. And I have come into your home or the home of someone you know when help, safety, and security were needed to help the citizens of Detroit.

I have lost more friends in the line of duty than anyone should.

I have been shot at more times than you can count; and

I have been run over.

I loved my job.

In 1996, I was on my way back to the First Precinct after patrolling the streets. I proceeded through a green light near the precinct and was struck by a vehicle that ran a red light. I do not remember much about the accident because I was in a coma for six days. I had a very serious head injury. I was off work for nearly one year, then on restricted duty for two years.

I had to learn to eat and swallow again.

My head injury caused memory issues, which I have to this day.

I did not take a duty or medical retirement at the advice of my union. They told me not to worry---the retirement insurance coverage would take care of me. But that’s not true anymore.

I do not think I am special, nor do I think I am unique. I am like every other patrol officer in any other city. I worked hard. I earned everything I have. I do not want anyone to “give” me anything.

I do want what I earned --- my health-care coverage and pension.

Thank you for listening. I hope you do not experience the same treatment.


TOPICS: Extended News; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS:
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To: bkopto

Must make you feel great picking on the old!


101 posted on 11/07/2013 4:24:58 PM PST by Randy Larsen (Aim small, Miss small.)
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To: Progov
All those public comrades "losing" a pension that likely was spent by the politicians they chose. Those pensions were fully funded for many many years, how often did this cop and his union complain about that? I bet they ENDORSED the projects that the money supposedly going into their pensions went to fund.

Detroit Public Workers should all be compensated with seized properties


102 posted on 11/07/2013 4:28:36 PM PST by GeronL
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To: bkopto

The Good Ship Lollipop sank with all hands.


103 posted on 11/07/2013 4:28:58 PM PST by count-your-change (you don't have to be brilliant, not being stupid is enough)
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To: bkopto
Well, there's really not a lot of sympathy for uLEO's (unionized Law Enforcement Officers) here at FR anymore. You have become the political police force for the Democratic party.

You probably don't know this, officer, but that's exactly what the SS was to the Nazi party: the political police force.

104 posted on 11/07/2013 4:29:33 PM PST by Zuben Elgenubi
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To: RinaseaofDs

I hear that some public workers pay NOTHING into the system. I am not sure which. Might have been Wisconsin teachers I am not sure.


105 posted on 11/07/2013 4:30:18 PM PST by GeronL
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To: GeronL

were NOT fully funded...

geez...

need to proofread better


106 posted on 11/07/2013 4:31:42 PM PST by GeronL
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To: bkopto

What a freaking whiner! As a GOVERNMENT employee, he should know better than to trust another GOVERNMENT employee or entity! He’s a typical loser.


107 posted on 11/07/2013 4:32:34 PM PST by AKinAK (Keep your powder dry pilgrim.)
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To: factoryrat

European style confiscation of ALL retirement funds

In my mind that is next after Obamacare


108 posted on 11/07/2013 4:34:50 PM PST by Nailbiter
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To: GeronL

To be strictly accurate, public employees pay NOTHING into their retirement, the taxpayers pay for it all - salary, retirement, medical.

Public employees wouldn’t have dime one if there were no taxpayers from whom to seize the wealth.


109 posted on 11/07/2013 4:35:36 PM PST by abb
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To: abb

bump


110 posted on 11/07/2013 4:35:55 PM PST by GeronL
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To: sodpoodle

Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (& some older ones) didn’t know this.
It’s easy to check out, if you don’t believe it. Be sure and show it to your family
and friends. They need a little history lesson on what’s what and it doesn’t matter
whether you are Democrat or Republican. Facts are Facts.

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social
Security (FICA) Program. He promised:

1.) That participation in the Program would be
Completely voluntary,

No longer Voluntary

2.) That the participants would only have to pay
1% of the first $1,400 of their annual
Incomes into the Program,

Now 7.65%
on the first $106,000

3.) That the money the participants elected to put
into the Program would be deductible from
their income for tax purposes each year,

No longer tax deductible

4.) That the money the participants put into the
independent ‘Trust Fund’rather than into the
general operating fund, and therefore, would
only be used to fund the Social Security
Retirement Program, and no other
Government program, and,

Under Johnson the money was moved to
The General Fund and Spent

5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed
as income.

Under Clinton & Gore
Up to 85% of your Social Security can be Taxed

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are
now receiving a Social Security check every month —
and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of
the money we paid to the Federal government to ‘put
away’ — you may be interested in the following:

—————— -———— -———— -———— -———— -———— ——

Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the
independent ‘Trust Fund’ and put it into the
general fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically
controlled House and Senate.

—————— -———— -———— -———— -———— -———— -———— —

Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax
deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democratic Party.

—————— -———— -———— -———— -———— -———— -———— -——

Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social
Security annuities?

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the
‘tie-breaking’ deciding vote as President of the
Senate, while he was Vice President of the US

—————— -———— -———— -———— -———— -———— -———— -

Q: Which Political Party decided to start
giving annuity payments to immigrants?

AND MY FAVORITE:

A: That’s right!

Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party.
Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65,
began to receive Social Security payments! The
Democratic Party gave these payments to them,
even though they never paid a dime into it!

—————— — —————— -———— -—— —————— -———— -————

Then, after violating the original contract (FICA),
the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want
to take your Social Security away!

Dick Kantenberger
Gifted Education Writer
Examiner.com


111 posted on 11/07/2013 4:39:05 PM PST by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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To: donmeaker
He didn’t pay SS, but didn’t put money aside for himself.

What he did or didn't do for himself is not the issue. He fulfilled his obligation in working for his employer based on the benefits package guaranteed to him by his employer. And now YOU are in support of screwing him out of what his employment guaranteed him?

How about this scenario bro: I hire you to replace the heating system in my house and you quote me $3,000 to do the job. Once the job is completed I then tell you that I don't have the money and all I'm going to pay you is $500...........That won't set well with ya bro, will it?

112 posted on 11/07/2013 4:40:40 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Make sure you have removed the kleenex from your pockets before doing laundry)
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To: cripplecreek
I don't remember hearing/reading about THIS...what the heck are "13th checks"?
113 posted on 11/07/2013 4:50:04 PM PST by RckyRaCoCo (Shall Not Be Infringed)
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To: cripplecreek
Some more info on "13th checks"

I smell a rat...

114 posted on 11/07/2013 4:53:31 PM PST by RckyRaCoCo (Shall Not Be Infringed)
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To: Progov
It is time that these people get the share they, like others have earned,

Big government made promises they couldn't afford. Now, the money isn't there. Public pensions should be replaced by 401Ks. If you work for the government for 23 years, the government should put your retirement promises into your retirement account every month of those 23 years.

That way, when your employer goes broke, you already have possession of every dime they promised you. No taxing my grandkids to fund the promises of your politicians.

115 posted on 11/07/2013 4:53:38 PM PST by Toddsterpatriot (Science is hard. Harder if you're stupid.)
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To: tennmountainman
Waaaaaaaaaaaa. This retired cop probably voted democrat all his life.

Shut the fu#k up jerk, you have no idea what you're talking about.

This cop could have been my dad who retired from the DPOA in 1978 as an Executive Lieutenant and was probably more rightwing than you could ever imagine.

The city screwed over the retired cops and firemen for over 10 years, denying them the contractual pension increases that both parties had bargained in good faith over. It wasn't until after my dad died that the courts finally ruled in favor of the DPOA and forced the city to pay the increases they were entitled to over a three year period..........

Sounds to me like you're siding with the government and their attempt to deny the employees and retirees who worked their entire lives for their guaranteed pension benefits..............

116 posted on 11/07/2013 4:56:33 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Make sure you have removed the kleenex from your pockets before doing laundry)
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To: henkster

Did he take the “Pension Bonus’s” being paid out in the years the pension was over funded?


117 posted on 11/07/2013 4:57:21 PM PST by Woodman
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To: Mr. K
And I ‘retired’ at age 40-something with a lavish pension and I WANT MINE!

Good for you my brother, if your employer promised it to you then I am all in favor of you receiving it............

If you don't get it then by God, let us know and we will attack your employer and demand that you receive it........If our demands aren't met then rest assured we will launch a boycott of them.

I and we have your back bro!

118 posted on 11/07/2013 5:02:59 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Make sure you have removed the kleenex from your pockets before doing laundry)
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To: Hot Tabasco

“How about this scenario bro: I hire you to replace the heating system in my house and you quote me $3,000 to do the job. Once the job is completed I then tell you that I don’t have the money and all I’m going to pay you is $500...........That won’t set well with ya bro, will it? “

That’s not even close to the scenario.

I hire you to do a job - with money I say I can borrow. When the job is finished, my credit line is tapped out, nobody will loan me any more, and my house gets repossessed, you come to me for payment and I’m homeless and destitute.

How do you get your money?


119 posted on 11/07/2013 5:06:56 PM PST by RFEngineer
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To: bkopto

The cop should have been worried and moved out when the autoshops were closing. Why do people stay? Did he vote Democrat?


120 posted on 11/07/2013 5:13:38 PM PST by lavaroise
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