I guess the city, rather taxpayers (1 - 4 homeowners) will be sock with tax increases because the city must bond to pay terminal leave. It is all those comp days that must be paid out.

You sound quite informed. So... it's good, right? We get rid of those who would oppose any change the hardest, and promote younger officers with better ideas. Not to mention losing those getting paid the most. Is Comey getting as much as the Hoboken PD chief who sued for more, $180k+? How about a real talent search like we did for the school superintendent instead of promoting whoever's next in line?

Is there really nothing Fulop could do if there's something shady in their deals? Some of these contracts are insane, the stuff illustrated in the Hoboken lawsuit I'm sure is just the tip of the iceberg.

Quote:

Any chance Fulop will put a stop to JCPD officers collecting overtime by sitting on a quite, already blocked off side street, like Princeton Avenue, protecting nothing at all? The only time I've seen police doing this for construction, underground work or road work in any other city is on a busy street. This is an obscene waste of taxpayer dollars.

The number of cops retiring is far greater than the 15 reported. The 15 are senior high ranking officers who are about to get bounced out of their comfy jobs. A large number of officers from the class of 88 will also be heading for the exits because things are about to change dramatically in the JCPD.
Comey and his top three deputies put their papers in last Wednesday effective June 1st. There will be no top echelon management after that date.
The reason behind getting out has nothing to do with getting fired. If these people remained on the job after Fulop takes over they will be at the mercy of the new administration. No more Monday through Friday 9-5. You will now work as a midnight patrol supervisor. Comey is only a Lieutenant which would mean he would simply get bounced to a district. The logic behind abandoning ship prior to July 1st. is strictly financial.
These guys are owed hundreds of thousands each in compensatory time and terminal leave. That is not an exaggeration. If they get out before 7/1 their payouts are guaranteed by the Healy administration. If they wait Fulop could make sure everything is on the level before opening up the checkbook. What would you do?
It should be noted that these extravagant payouts are not as common as Governor Christie would have you believe. The average patrol officer does not have the luxury of banking time like the privileged elite who spend their careers behind a desk.

It is not unheard of in government for appointees to submit their letter of resignation or letter of intent to retire soon after coming on board. This is a way to save face. Rather than being fired the boss regretfully accepts your letter of resignation.

Um... Good.

they'd rather retire with all their overtime and benefits than get fired in disgrace.

JERSEY CITY ? Senior members of the administration of outgoing Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy said Monday that Jersey City Police Chief Thomas Comey and a number of top brass in the Jersey City Police Department (JCPD) plan to submit retirement papers before Mayor-Elect Steven Fulop takes the helm this summer.

City Spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill insists these retirements have not been confirmed.

According to two members of the Healy administration, Comey and more than a dozen senior JCPD staff who are eligible for retirement have either begun the paperwork necessary to retire or have stated their intention to retire this summer. As many as 15 senior members of the department could be leaving, according to one source.

?Why would they stay? Fulop did nothing but criticize their work,? this source said. ?He has made it clear he doesn?t want them in the department.?

Fulop said last wee that a reorganization of the JCPD is among his top priorities and during the mayoral campaign he said ?new leadership? was needed within the department.

But Morrill said that while several members of the department are eligible for retirement, including Chief Comey, there is no mass exodus from the JCPD.

?Chief Comey and numerous officers have completed 25 years of service in the JCPD and are eligible for retirement. It?s a personal choice, and if and when they officially submit their retirement papers, the proper notification will be made,? Morrill said. ?Right now, everyone is hearing a lot of rumors, but we have not received any official notification and at this point nothing has been confirmed.? ? E. Assata Wright

Read more: Hudson Reporter - Chief Comey other JCPD top brass planning to retire before Fulop takes the helm