Suozzi Calls to End Excessive Termination Payouts for Police

-- Average Payout per Officer for Unused Sick & Vacation Days in 2005 Was Over $250,000

Mineola, N.Y. – Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi today called on the police unions to rein in the enormous payouts their members receive in unused sick and vacation days when leaving the Nassau County Police Department. The county paid a total of $25.2 million in termination pay to 99 individuals.

Police officers, who work less than 40 weeks a year, can often avoid using sick and vacation days while they’re on the job, and then are able to cash out their unused days when they leave county employment. The average termination payout in 2005 was $254,834. These payouts are in addition to members’ generous yearly pensions and fully-paid health insurance for life.

Upon leaving the county workforce, police officers can cash out on up to 275 sick days, 90 vacation days, 15 personal days and five days in “terminal pay” for each year on the job.

“In the private sector, and in most of the government sector, this type of practice is unheard of,” Suozzi said. “Our police officers, detectives and superior officers do a fantastic job every day, ensuring that Nassau County remains the safest municipality of its size in the nation. But our taxpayers can no longer afford these overly generous benefits. We simply can’t do business as usual any longer.”

The county is seeking limits in termination pay from Superior Officers Association (SOA), the Detectives’ Association Incorporated (DAI) and the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA).