I originally posted this in the"arrogance" thread and then saw this one. Forgive the intro.
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Then there's this...Long story short, she retires from JCPD, starts collecting her pension (not to mention the sick days she got paid out on) gets hired as a civilian "Public Safety Director" and put in charge of the ACPD. She is somehow above the cheif of police on the org chart. Talk about arrogance, she got $125k as a LT for JCPD, retires, collects pension of $105k thus far, gets almost immediately hired in AC ($90k/yr) and basically becomes chief.




Atlantic City Public Safety Director Christine Petersen resigns
A state pension board decision has ended the tumultuous 17-month tenure of Public Safety Director Christine Petersen.

Petersen submitted a resignation letter Tuesday, saying she did not want to re-enroll in the state?s Police and Firemen?s Retirement System, as she was told she must do to keep the job. Her last day of work will be Friday, according to the letter obtained by The Press of Atlantic City.

?It is my intention to remain retired from (the system),? Petersen wrote in the letter to Mayor Lorenzo Langford and Business Administrator Michael Scott.

Petersen has been a controversial figure since taking the job. Most recently, the police union filed a civil lawsuit, saying she has overstepped her bounds as a civilian director and is infringing on the day-to-day operations of the Police Department.

The PBA also brought it to the state?s attention that Petersen was wrongfully receiving a state pension from her former job as a lieutenant in the Jersey City Police Department.
Pension rules state that there must be a six-month gap between retiring through the PFRS and taking a new job in public safety. Petersen took the director job in Atlantic City just a month after retiring from Jersey City. Last month, the state pension board found she was not entitled to approximately $105,000 in payments she had received. Petersen is appealing the decision.

The state Treasury Department could not immediately determine what her resignation means to Petersen?s pension. Those paying into the PFRS receive their pensions based on the salary they were earning upon retirement. As a lieutenant, Petersen?s annual salary was about $125,000. In Atlantic City, she receives $90,000 a year.

It was also not clear whether Petersen has paid any of the money back or if her resignation will affect that amount. Petersen refused comment Tuesday.

PBA President Dave Davidson Jr. said bringing the pension problem to the state?s attention was something that had to be done.

?There?s no ill will toward her,? he said. ?We wish her no harm, but it?s time to move ahead.?

But how that will be done is still unclear.

When the position was re-created in January 2010, Langford said there didn?t need to be both a police chief and a director. Langford moved Petersen into then-Police Chief John Mooney?s office and tried to demote Mooney to deputy chief. Mooney instead retired May 27, 2010, and the position has not been filled since.

He and Fire Chief Dennis Brooks filed suit, saying that the director position violated their contracts.

Langford has made plans three times to promote Deputy Chief Ernest Jubilee into the chief?s spot. The last time, in February, the ceremony was canceled less than a day before it was supposed to take place.

Many assume keeping the director?s position vacant could clear the way for Jubilee to become chief. Jubilee referred a request for comment to Langford, who did not return several calls.

State Police Lt. Col. Tom Gilbert, commander of the city?s Tourism District, said he knew of the resignation, but that he expects ?continuing and building on the productive relationship that has been forged with the ACPD and city administration on public safety issues.?

Meanwhile, Mooney may not be out of the picture.

?I would certainly be interested in resuming my position as chief of police,? he said. ?I would be more than willing to tackle the important challenges that face Atlantic City in the law-enforcement area.?

wrongful ? lets use the right word here - ILLEGALLY

Atlantic City public safety director quits in pension dispute

Wednesday, July 27, 2011
By The Associated Press


Christine Petersen is resigning as Atlantic City public safety director. The police union recently alerted the state that Petersen was wrongfully receiving a pension from her former job as a lieutenant in the Jersey City Police Department.

ATLANTIC CITY ? Atlantic City's public safety director is stepping down after 17 months amid a dispute over the pension she receives from her previous job.

Christine Petersen's last day will be Friday.

According to her resignation letter obtained by The Press of Atlantic City, Petersen said she did not want to re-enroll in the state's Police and Firemen's Retirement System, as she was told she must do to keep the job.

The police union recently alerted the state that Petersen was wrongfully receiving a pension from her former job as a lieutenant in the Jersey City Police Department.

Petersen took the Atlantic City job one month after retiring instead of waiting six months.

The state last month ruled she was not entitled to approximately $105,000 in payments. Petersen is appealing the decision.