Would You Like One Dip or Two?

Despite the headline, this story is about law enforcement. Honest!

It's a foregone conclusion that Bethlehem Police Commissioner Randy Miller will be easily confirmed this Thursday as Northampton County's new Sheriff by County Council. After all, he was the unanimous choice of President Judge Kimberly McFadden, Court Administrator Jim Onembo, County Executive John Stoffa and Director of Administration John Conklin. Even Miller's boss, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, penned a letter of recommendation. Most would agree that Randy is the First Spear at the Lehigh Valley's finest police department, and that presumably has something to do with him. Who could possibly object to this appointment?

Northampton County Bulldog Ron Angle, of course.

Ron's a little miffed to find out about this appointment from the newspaper. Once word leaked out, apparently in Bethlehem, Angle believes Stoffa owed Council members the courtesy of a call. He's also concerned that no insider was chosen. "What kind of message are we sending to people who already work hard in that department?" he asks. But what really bothers Angle is that Miller will be yet another in a long line of government double dippers.

Who doesn't like a double dip? The private sector.

Sarah Cassi, in her Express Times report, notes that Miller, age 53, will collecting a $64,000 per year public pension on top of the $76,997 public salary proposed by Stoffa. His annual income for managing a less stressful and smaller department will skyrocket from $92,000 to $140,000. That's a great deal for Miller, but what about the taxpayer? "Couldn't he be asked to accept a smaller salary?" asks Angle.

Miller's situation is nothing new. His predecessor, Jeff Hawbecker, was a retired state trooper collecting a pension. Now he's collecting two. In fact, the entire Sheriff's Department is really little more than a retirement home for retired state troopers and ex-Allentown cops. It's very common among teachers, cops and others able to retire young after twenty years on the job.

They will tell you they contributed to their pensions during most of their careers, but neglect to mention that these defined benefit plans require the taxpayer to make up any shortfall.

Now there are those rare employees who actually wait to retire until they're 65, like Executive John Stoffa. I even know one County row office worker in her 70's, who would be nearly impossible to replace. They've earned their pensions. But for tens of thousands of younger state and local workers who retire, this is a scam.

This, along with defined benefit pension plans, need serious reform.