Plan to allow police double dipping advances

SANTA FE — More than a dozen mayors, police chiefs and sheriffs from around New Mexico made their way to the state Capitol on Friday to testify in support of a bill allowing retired police officers to return to work while still collecting their pension benefits.

But while the top brass claimed the law change would help them bolster their law enforcement ranks, union leaders and the head of the state’s public retirement system opposed the effort to sanction — after a six-year hiatus — a practice that’s commonly known as double dipping.

“This bill is negative to the morale of law enforcement agencies,” said Shaun Willoughby, president of the Albuquerque police officers union.

After two hours of debate, the measure, House Bill 171, was approved in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee on a 9-7 partyline vote, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.

Backers of the measure say the legislation is needed to improve officer shortages and, in turn, reduce violent crime rates.

“Our responsibility in government is to help the safety and well-being of our citizens,” said Rep. Monica Youngblood, R-Albuquerque.

Passing the return-to-work legislation is a top priority for Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry, who testified during Friday’s hearing and suggested after it ended that he’s open to changes to the bill.

One change could be tacking on a five-year “sunset” clause — or expiration date — to the bill to make it more palatable to lawmakers.

“I know there are concerns, and we’re going to do everything we can to address them,” Berry told the Journal after Friday’s vote.

In Albuquerque, the Police Department had 831 officers as of earlier this month but is authorized for 1,000. But part of Friday’s debate focused on whether the police officer shortage in the state’s largest city is a problem shared by other law enforcement agencies around New Mexico.

Pete Dinelli, a former Albuquerque chief public safety officer and deputy city attorney who ran for mayor in 2013, shared data recently obtained from various New Mexico city and county law enforcement agencies that shows most departments are more than 90 percent staffed — with some at 100 percent.

But state Public Safety Secretary Greg Fouratt disputed the claim, saying many law enforcement agencies around the state have high vacancy rates.

There are 81 vacant positions in just the State Police ranks, Fouratt added, saying, “It is flatly false to suggest to suggest New Mexico State Police doesn’t also have a vacancy problem.”

Under the bill, only officers who had retired by the end of 2015 would be eligible to participate. In addition, the number of officers hired under the law would be capped — at 100 officers in Albuquerque’s case.

The return-to-work legislation now advances to the House floor, where it’s expected to be debated early next week.

New Mexico banned double dipping in 2010, due to concerns the practice stifled internal promotions and strained the state’s retirement fund.