Bills aim to boost retirement for employees in law enforcement

Certain retired law enforcement officers would be eligible for increases in their pensions, while others would be awarded law enforcement status for retirement purposes under legislation introduced in the Senate last week. Retired agents from the Secret Service's uniformed division and the U.S. Park Police would get an automatic increase in their pensions whenever their active counterparts received a cost-of-living adjustment under a bill (S. 1934) introduced by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., on Feb. 12. The bill aims to amend the 2000 Law Enforcement Pay Equity Act, which created new pay scales for active employees in the Secret Service's uniformed division and the Park Police, but also severed the tie between pensions and COLAs for those retirees. "Restoring their pensions will have a minimal effect on the federal budget, but a major impact on the quality of life for these retirees and their families," said Mikulski. There are approximately 1,500 retirees from the Secret Service's uniformed division and the Park Police. Rep. Constance Morella, R-Md., introduced similar legislation (H.R. 1887) in May 2001. Mikulski also introduced a bill (S. 1935) that would allow Immigration and Customs inspectors, canine enforcement officers and IRS revenue officers to retire after 20 years of service, just as federal law enforcement officers can. Inspectors, canine enforcement officers and revenue officers are currently eligible for retirement after 25 years of federal service, typically at age 55. The four groups are included in the General Schedule pay and benefits scale-they are not classified as law enforcement officers. Still, INS and Customs inspectors and canine enforcement officers often perform law enforcement duties. They are all authorized to carry a firearm, must undergo training for handling criminal suspects and frequently make drug seizures and arrests. "Every day, the men and women who hold these jobs face enormous physical challenges and constant emotional stress, particularly in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes on the United States," said Colleen M. Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. "Enforcing the laws they have sworn to uphold regularly exposes them to the threat of injury or even death." NTEU represents 12,700 Customs inspectors and IRS revenue officers and about 620 canine enforcement officers. Both bills were referred to the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.