Union calls for expanding definition of law enforcement officers

The American Federation of Government Employees on Wednesday called on Congress to standardize the definition of federal law enforcement officers across agencies, so employees who perform similar jobs will be eligible for the same enhanced pay and benefits.

"That's a problem of severe inequity," Brian DeWyngaert, the union's chief of staff, said of employees who perform law enforcement functions, but whose jobs aren't classified as law enforcement positions. "They put their lives on the line every day."

Employees defined as law enforcement officers are eligible to retire with full benefits at age 50, as long as they have 20 years of federal service. They are not penalized for retiring before 55, and they receive special retirement supplements until they are eligible for Social Security at age 62. On the job, federal law enforcement officers often are eligible for special overtime and premium pay rates because of unusual work hours.

Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., has introduced the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act in every session of Congress since 2001. That bill would standardize the definition of law enforcement officers as employees who are authorized to carry firearms and whose main duties include the investigation or apprehension of people who are suspected of violating U.S. criminal law, and Internal Revenue Service employees who collect delinquent tax returns and payments. In 2009, the bill was referred to the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia, which did not hold a hearing on it.

AFGE officials said the inconsistency had created human capital problems, because employees would leave agencies where they could not receive law enforcement benefits for those where they were eligible.

"The training is very intense in these occupations," DeWyngaert said. "You're losing your good people to other agencies because of this inequity. It's a problem for agencies, and it's a problem for management. They need to fix this so management can do their job properly."

Police officers at the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments, the U.S. Mint, the General Services Administration and the Federal Protective Service are among those ineligible for law enforcement benefits. Sgt. Kimberly Munley, the Defense civilian police officer and AFGE member who shot Maj. Nidal Hasan, ending his rampage at Fort Hood, Texas in November, said she hoped Congress would move on Filner's bill.

"Hopefully with the recent events they'll be addressed, and something will be done, and they'll give us some more privileges and some more pay," said Munley, who was shot in both legs and a wrist during the attack.