Top News
Derek Chauvin: Officers accused of killing George Floyd are still eligible for pensions worth more than $ 1 million
But Chauvin can still benefit from pensions which are partly funded by taxpayers. While a number of state laws allow for the retirement of pensions for employees convicted of serious crimes related to their work, this is not the case in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Public Employees Pension Association confirmed to CNN that 44-year-old Chauvin would still be eligible to apply for his pension from the age of 50, even though it would not provide details about the specific amount he would receive. Chauvin’s lawyer declined to comment. Pension Plan Officers say that employees who are laid off voluntarily or for reasons of being entitled to future benefits unless they choose to lose their future benefits and receive a refund of all their contributions made during their work.
“Neither our Council nor our staff have the policy to increase, reduce, reject or revoke benefits,” a spokesman said. “Any changes to the law now need to be made through a legislative process.”
While a number of factors are used to calculate retirement benefits, Chauvin is likely to qualify for an annual payment at the ballpark of $ 50,000 a year or more if he chooses to start receiving it at age 55, according to CNN analysis based on Chauvin’s tenure, 2019 payroll data, contract details , guide to retirement plans and salary schedules of the Minneapolis Police Department. Benefits can reach $ 1.5 million or more over a 30-year period, not including increases in living costs. Chauvin’s annual payment could be higher if he received a significant amount of overtime in previous years.
Two other officers charged with Floyd’s death were beginners, but the third also appeared to be eligible to receive pension benefits from his time with the department, according to work records released by the city. The Minneapolis Mayor’s Office, the Police Department and the local police union did not respond to requests for CNN comments.
Public pensions are paid through a combination of contributions from local governments funded by taxpayers and workers themselves, as well as investment returns. Public safety pensions are usually some of the most generous and have caused local and state budgets to swell throughout the country.
But they are almost impossible to reduce or take from workers who have been promised them in public employment contracts, and the police union has struggled to protect workers’ pensions. Officers also usually pay a portion of their own salary into the fund and usually receive their pensions in lieu of Social Security.
Amid increasing calls across the country to deforce the police department and distribute money better to social services, such as youth and community development and mental health care, retirement will likely prove to be a turning point in the ongoing debate.
The laws governing whether pensions can be stripped of police who are accused of violations vary depending on the country. Less than half the states have laws that allow pensions to be taken from police convicted of all forms of crime, while some other countries allow pensions to be taken for certain crimes such as corruption or sexual crimes against minors but not for the conviction of an officer for using excessive force, according to 2017 research published in the Journal of Law, Economics and Policy.
“Legacy of retirement due to violations is quite rare,” said D. Bruce Johnsen, a law professor at George Mason University and one of the research authors.
“With this terrible tragedy, it might be a good time to push in this direction,” he added, saying that the specific situation that allows for confiscation must be carefully determined.
What should we investigate next? Email us: watchdog@cnn.com.
General internet buff. Hardcore music maven. Typical foodaholic. Friendly student.