To Serve and Collect

Pension-fraud inquiries sought

By LUCY MORGAN

Times Staff Writer

ŠSt. Petersburg Times, published April 11, 1996

TALLAHASSEE -- A statewide task force should review fraud and abuse in local police and fire pensions, says the Florida League of Cities and Taxwatch, a business-financed tax watchdog.

In a joint news conference Wednesday, the two groups denounced pension frauds exposed in a recent St. Petersburg Times series and said such fraud costs the state more than $25-million a year.

It's the taxpayers who get soaked when a healthy firefighter or police officer collects a pension while able to work at another job, complained Larry L. Schultz, president of the League of Cities.

"Every city in Florida takes pride in the brave police officers and firefighters who protect and serve our people," Schultz said. "But a very real problem has emerged for every Florida city that has a local police and fire pension plan."

Lobbyists for many of the state's police officers said the report is exaggerated. League of Cities lobbyists said bills pending now in the Legislature will make the problem even worse by increasing the amount of money local governments spend on pensions.

One bill designed to provide lifetime health insurance for injured firefighters and police officers was caught in the uproar, temporarily derailing it Wednesday in the Senate Community Affairs Committee.

Sen. Don Sullivan, R-St. Petersburg, asked committee members to delay action on the bill until they can be sure that the benefit is limited to those who suffer catastrophic injuries.

"Where does this bill prevent a lady with a sore thumb who can't fire her gun from getting health care for life?" Sullivan asked, referring to a case the Times found. "This bill was sold to us for firefighters who suffered dramatic injuries and need health insurance, but it has turned into something else."

Sullivan said the Times stories have pointed out that being permanently and totally disabled doesn't mean much anymore. Many former officers are getting benefits at taxpayer expense while still able to work full time at other jobs.

Union lobbyists agreed to accept an amendment that would limit health care coverage to those who receive catastrophic injuries in the line of duty. Sen. Al Gutman, R-Miami, sponsor of the bill, also agreed to an amendment making it a crime for an officer or firefighter to falsely claim a disability.

The committee will consider the bill again next week.