Administration March 6, 2007

NJ Police Union Hits State with Pension Underfunding Suit

June 15, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - A Garden State law enforcement union has sued the state to force lawmakers to pay for years of shortchanging the officers' retirement system.
Reported by

The New Jersey Law Enforcement Supervisors Association filed the suit in state Superior Court in Trenton. The association represents about 850 police and corrections sergeants statewide and 225 retirees, according to a Gannett News Service news report. Association President Tom Moran told the news service that the state’s bill for shortchanged pension contributions could be $3 billion to $4 billion.

“Do we work for Enron here, or do we work for the state of New Jersey? Because if we worked for Enron, people would be going to jail for what they’re doing to our pensions,” Moran said, according to the news report.

The Fraternal Order of Police, Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey and New Jersey Education Association have similar suits pending against the state.

Governor Jon Corzine has proposed paying $1.3 billion into the pension system, including about $800 million for the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System. A state estimate has put the fund’s shortfall at $18 billion.

«