Police Pensions,A free ride on the taxpayer?

Question

Some 25% of our local taxes now go on propping up pension schemes for what are well paid pen pushers and their ilk

In the real world all industries see that Final Salary Pensions are unsustainable and are now having to come to terms with the actuality

Why should any organisation (in particular the police cos they are vastly overpaid and retire at 50) pay its retirement pensions on a final salary maybe 10 times greater(promotion) than that what it was when the officer first started

An example being started job @£10000 pa finishes after 30 years service on £40000 so pension is paid number of years service at the £40,000 rate, As a lot of their contributions were paid at 11% of £10,000 shouldn't their pension be an average of all the years service not just the last . Especially if they were given the facility for loadsa overtime in the last year whacking their pensionable salary up and s******g the tax payer more. Fairer would be £10000+40,000/2=£25,000 average and pay pension on that surely ?.

Answer 1

Hi Robbie

If it is such a cake walk - why are you not in on it?

Because you can't handle the pressure pot - thats why

Answer 2

Police undertake a dangerous profession where they could paid far better with better conditions. There are those of us that do this because we believe in its function and necessity.

A police pension is some small compensation for the increased risk posed not only by the profession itself but the inherent health issues posed by shift work in this area. This is not what could be called a desirable job, it is a calling much like teaching or nursing. There needs to be some means by which we can recognize the sacrifices made and risks taken, the pension is the means by which this is done.

And just for your information as a police officer I receive a superannuation contribution from my employer (yes the govt) and I pay considerably more in voluntarily so in a large part I fund my own retirement (at 60 mind you not 50).

If it really appears to that that this is such a sweet deal then join the job and make a real assessment of just how easy you seem to think this is.

You cannot seriously compare the dangers of policing with those of agriculture et al. Every single day of my career I deal with those who would harm me if only to avoid facing the consequences of their own actions. In this job I have had knives and firearms produced on me, I have been bitten and scratched by diseased drug addled fools, I have sustained permenant hand injury as a result of a drunken t**t who thought boxing on with coppers would be fun. In my service I have had five officers known to me personally die on the job. It is clear you have no concept of what you are talking about. I'm not trying to argue more money, but do not begrudge police officers what they do get.

'you sleep soundly in bed at night because rough men stand ready in the night to do violence upon those who would harm you' ORWELL

Answer 3

Would you risk your life on a daily basis for $35-$45k per year? I don't think so. In the US most police make $27k-$37k per year depending on location some more, some less. I don't think $27k per year is overpaid for someone to do their job.  

Answer 4

I disagree!

Answer 5

Police officers have about 10% of each paycheck taken out for pension contributions. The city pays the other half and it's placed in investment accounts. That's how it is...serve for 30 years (75% of your salary) or a minimum of 20 (50% of your salary) @ 50 years old and you can retire. Most people cant afford to retire at 20 years or when they acquire 20 years, they arent 50 yet, so they stay for 30 and retire in their mid 50's.

What's wrong with that? Get a government job or invest your money and quit whining.

Answer 6

and it isn't like police work is dangerous... it actually isn't...

Driving a truck is actually much more dangerous... and then there are TRULY dangerous jobs like deep rock miners, high steel workers, Bering sea fishermen., etc.

What do the police really do?... show up after the fact and take a report... and write traffic tickets.