Jersey City says police director won?t be leaving with big payout

February 01, 2012, 3:04 AM
By Ron Zeitlinger/The Jersey Journal

Samuel Jefferson will not be leaving his position as Jersey City police director later this month with a hefty payday after all.

The former police officer who has been the city?s police director will receive $2,205 in unused sick time when he leaves the position on Feb. 17, Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said yesterday, not $53,700.

It was reported yesterday that city officials said Jefferson would receive $53,700 for cashing in 93 sick days, 21 vacation days and two personal days. Morrill said yesterday that city officials had erroneously counted sick days that Jefferson is not eligible to accrue, based on a 2010 executive order that made changes to the termination pay rules.

Morrill said that Jefferson, who earns $143,899 as police director, is expected to be paid for 3.5 vacation days and one-half of a personal day.

Jefferson, 63, a retired police sergeant, has been a civilian city official since 2001, first as a commerce director and then as the administrative head of the Police Department. He was appointed police director in 2004.

He also earns an annual $62,952 pension from his time on the police force, state records show.

The city owes its current employees nearly $74 million in unused time, according to Gov. Chris Christie, who wants the state Legislature to pass a bill forbidding any cash payout for unused sick time.

well, the existing policy is what it is. and when people start using their sick time, others will start complaining that X is taking too much sick time. there are always going to winners and losers, abusers and do-gooders.

I do not agree with getting paid for unused sick time, especially considering the city's financial stauts. That being said, if someone get's hired under the premise that unused sick days will be worth cash one day, you can't just take them completely away.

I think all current city employees should get an agreed upon percentage of unused sick time. New hires shouldn't have that option.

50K? That's pennies...Comey and Nalbach are gonna walk away with $500K each when they retire this year! Who needs the lottery? THAT'S a payday!

and what's the point. The guy was entitled to his sick leave. If there is a problem, then the state/government should go to a use it or lose it policy, but then people will start complaining that people are taking TOO many sick days when people actually start using them. If somebody has a stomach ache, should one call in sick? how about a headache, toothache? or should people only call in sick when its a near life/death situation.

Retiring Jersey City police director to get more than $50K for unused sick time, vacation, and personal days

January 31, 2012, 11:15 AM
By Terrence T. McDonald/The Jersey Journal

JERSEY CITY ? Jersey City Police Director Sam Jefferson is set for a big pay day when he retires next month, as preliminary estimates show him receiving more than $50,000 for accumulated unused time, city officials confirmed yesterday.

Jefferson, 63, a retired police sergeant, has been a civilian city official since 2001, first as a commerce director and then as the administrative head of the Police Department. He was appointed police director in 2004.

He will retire next month after accumulating 93 sick days, 21 vacation days and two personal days as of Jan. 13, according to city spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill.

All that unused time translates into about $53,700, Morrill said.

Jefferson?s annual salary is $143,899. He also earns an annual $62,952 pension from his time on the police force, state records show.

Jefferson did not return a telephone call requesting comment.

Sick-time payouts have become a target of Gov. Chris Christie, who says he wants to eliminate the practice. When describing how much New Jersey municipalities owe their retiring public employees for unused sick time, he?s often cited Jersey City.

The city owes its current employees nearly $74 million in unused time, according to Christie, who wants the state Legislature to pass a bill forbidding any cash payout for unused sick time.

State Democrats gave Christie a bill capping sick-time payouts at $15,000, but the governor vetoed the measure. At a West New York town hall meeting in December, Christie called any cap over zero unacceptable.