Pension Opinions

There were a few letters and commentaries posted in the Orange County Register over the weekend related to Moorlach’s raid on Deputy Sheriff pensions.  My apologies for getting them to you so late.

OCRegister.com – Do cops make too much money?
Local columnist Gordon Dillow wonders if pensions are too high for police officers and deputies.

OCRegister.com – Reader rebuttals: The ‘pension tsunami’

By MARK C. BERGQUIST

I wonder if a few other facts might be added to senior editorial writer Steven Greenhut’s “Pension tsunami” column [Commentary, Aug. 5].

The “10 Most Dangerous Jobs” list he refers to is calculated by injuries or death per 100,000 workers. Guess who is in the over-100,000 category (many times!) – cops and firefighters. Some of those professions in the Top 10 do not even break the 100,000 mark. Even mentioning this was a bit cowardly, in that most cops are killed by acts of a violent human being versus acts of God or nature.  Read More

By KEN RAMSEY

In his column, “Rolling back the pension tsunami” [Commentary, Aug. 5], Register opinion columnist Steven Greenhut paints a mythical picture of the retired law enforcement officer, able to “luxuriate” at the golf course pondering a second career, while private-sector employees must work into their 60s or 70s. Nowhere in the column, however, does Greenhut address the fact that many of those retired officers may not be around long enough after retirement to collect much of their pensions, let alone “luxuriate” anywhere. Read More

Comments anyone? 

10 Comments

  1. by the amount of comments on here about this subject it shows that people dont care about the sheriffs. i know i dont. you think it has anything to do about all the scandal that surrounds the sheriffs dept. all the time?

  2. In the course of a 20 to 30 year career, deputies work nasty hours. Even if they are not working midnights or swing shift, they are usually subject to lots of overtime (not everyone desires overtime, many prefer to be home), they work on holidays, and are subject to call in due to emergencies. While we are snug at home, they are up and working in crappy weather at “o-dark thirty.”

    In the course of a 20 to 30 year career, deputies deal with awful circumstances and many, many unpleasant people. Like what and like who? Well, like looking for the severed foot of the guy who lost control of his Kawasaki Ninja at 120 mph. Or dealing with the devastated children of the mother who was shot in the head by her estranged husband. How about the poor old soul who hung himself by a noose in his garage…a week ago. How about the drunk guy who was breaking out car windows in your condo complex and puked and peed all over himself. You want to pat him down and give him a ride to jail in your car?

    In the course of a 20 to 30 year career, deputies deal with stress, guff, lawsuits, boredom, terror, and endless waves of criticism by politicians, media, the public and by fellow officers. Studies do indicate that law enforcement officers on average, die years sooner than the Average Joe due to prolonged exposure to stress. Stress helps cause or exacerbates the chances of cancer and heart disease for example.

    OC needs deputy sheriffs to help maintain peace and order. A decent middle-class wage (read the counties own reports on what it actually takes $ wise to live here!) and a secure ( and statistically shorter than average!) 3@50 retirement after 20 to 30 years service is a fair exchange for years of stress and managing the worst OC has to offer.

  3. I have a comment. Every time I read Greenhut’s columns criticizing police and fire folks as overpaid I take great solace in knowing that he has no idea what he’s talking about. I would like to know how much time he has spent on a fire engine or riding in a squad car. While I believe the topic of pensions needs be examined I would like someone who knows what they’re talking about as it relates to the relative dangers of a profession.

    I doubt Greenhut has even a clue what firefighters and police officers deal with daily.

    I also take great solace in knowing that men and women who serve our communities are willing to do these jobs instead of someone who lobs criticism from the confines of an air conditioned office.

  4. Well Jose,

    the number of comments made regarding a post is not always the greatest indication of readership/interest in that post.

    As of yesterday the highest ranked post on Liberal OC in the last month was Moorlach’s Folly, followed closely by Andrew’s coverage of the protesters arrested for their sit-in at Congresswoman Sanchez’s office. The issue of Moorlach’s attack on public employee pensions is an issue that interests a great many of the readers here at TheLiberalOC.

    People may not always comment, but they are reading.

  5. I would like to know how much time he has spent on a fire engine or riding in a squad car.

    We’ll all keep that in mind next time you opine about anything, RHackett, now that you have laid down first-hand personal experience as THE criterion which permits someone to venture an opinion about anything.

  6. Local columnist Gordon Dillow wonders if pensions are too high for police officers and deputies.

    This being a Chris Prevatt post, we all know the answer is there’s no such thing as a government employee being paid too much or having a pension that is too generous.

  7. We’ll all keep that in mind next time you opine about anything, RHackett, now that you have laid down first-hand personal experience as THE criterion which permits someone to venture an opinion about anything.

    I have no problem with the debate on compensation packages. I object to Greenhut’s writings that ALL public employees are overpaid and underworked. Over the years he’s taken several whacks at cops as being lazy or that firefighters are paid for sleeping. Somehow he knows all about both jobs, yet he’s done neither one. If you are going to criticize the professions of others a little first hand knowledge might not be a bad thing to give your claim credibility. Until then it is nothing more than whining combined with ignorance.

  8. sorry my post got repeated so many times it wasn’t showing up so I tried posting multiple times…now they all showed up at once…sheesh!

  9. Jubal,

    Let me know when I criticize the details of one’s profession. I’ll be the first to accept the criticism.

  10. Jubal’s ramblings are usually prefaced with, “I can’t remember”, “So I don’t know”, “If I recall correctly”, “But I could be wrong”, and my all time favorite, “No one knows”. This appears to be his idea of debating with his disingenuous postings. Yes, I’m a fan of Matt Cunningham’s childish opining. With that said, Jubal’s thoughts online are always good for the amusement of those like me.

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