"Disability pensions allow some firefighters to collect while working elsewhere"

By Jeremy Kohler and David Hunn
STLtoday.com
February 19, 2012
Link: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/disability-pensions-allow-some-firefighters-to-collect-while-working-elsewhere/article_6b69107e-cf70-5d39-bfc0-2c8e6a10df04.html

FLASHBACK: NEVER FORGET


"The Curious Case of Peter Nowicki"
By Dave Horne
Who Stole My Career? (Blog)
May 18, 2011
Link: http://whostolemycareer.com/posts/92/3286-the-curious-case-of-peter-nowicki.html

"A surefire sign that your public safety contracts are out of control"
By Troy Senik
Public Sector Inc.
January 26, 2012
Link: http://www.publicsectorinc.com/forum/2012/01/a-surefire-sign-that-public-compensation-has-become-out-of-control.html

"Firefighters' Union Grievance Way Out Of Line"

"October Storm: And public union members wonder why people get upset?"

Editorial by The Hartford Courant
January 10, 2012
Link: http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-ed-union-grievance-20120110,0,1945419.story

"(Another) Former Utah firefighter takes plea deal in child porn case"

By Aaron Falk

The Salt Lake Tribune

Published Dec 09 2011 02:41PM
Updated Dec 9, 2011 11:29PM
Link: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53086301-78/child-farnsworth-jordan-2007.html.csp


Excerpt (see news article cited directly above):

• A former South Jordan Fire captain arrested more than four years ago for having child pornography on his computer has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. 

Commentary:

• Is pedophilia part of the training program for firefighters in Utah?

"Former (Utah) firefighter pleads guilty to child sex abuse"
By Emiley Morgan
Deseret NewsDecember 9, 2011
Link: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705395607/Former-firefighter-pleads-guilty-to-child-sex-abuse.html


Excerpt (see news article cited directly above):

• A former South Davis Metro fire captain has pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a child in connection with pictures he took of a 6-year-old autistic girl. 

Commentary:

• Justice will not be served unless the defendant, who is one of "America's Bravest," is incarcerated in general population.

"Fire official sentenced to 57 months in prison"

"Former Miami Assistant Fire Chief Veldora Arthur was sentenced Friday for her role in a $317,000 mortgage fraud scheme. Arthur was earning nearly $185,000 in yearly salary and a $167,000 pension through the deferred retirement option plan."

By Melissa Sanchez
The Miami Herald
December 17, 2011
Link: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/16/2550713/fire-official-sentenced-to-57.html

"East Naples (Florida) firefighter arrested in online sex sting fired"

By Jacob Carpenter
Marconews.com
December 19, 2011
Link: http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/dec/19/east-naples-firefighter-arrested-in-online-sex/

"Deputy fire chief demoted after DUI, gun charges"

By Fran Spielman and the Better Government Association
Chicago Sun-Times
December 18, 2011
Link: http://www.suntimes.com/9468519-417/deputy-fire-chief-demoted-after-dui-gun-charges.html

[1/3]
"Cleveland firefighters paid for hours they didn't work"
By Thomas Ott
The Plain Dealer
Published: Friday, November 18, 2011, 10:00 PM
Updated: Monday, November 21, 2011, 10:55 AM
Link: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/11/cleveland_firefighters_paid_fo.html


[2/3]
"Editorial: Cleveland's mayor and safety division supervisors must go relentlessly after Fire Department payroll abuses"
By The Plain Dealer Editorial Board
The Plain Dealer
Published: Saturday, November 26, 2011, 9:15 AM
Updated: Saturday, November 26, 2011, 2:33 PM
Link: http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/11/clevelands_mayor_and_safety_di.html


[3/3]
"Cleveland firefighters blow voters' trust at critical time"
By Mark Naymik
The Plain Dealer
Published: Thursday, December 01, 2011, 5:20 AM
Updated: Thursday, December 01, 2011, 10:41 AM
Link: http://www.cleveland.com/naymik/index.ssf/2011/12/cleveland_firefighters_blow_vo.html#incart_mce

"Cleveland Fire scandal highlights abuse of already generous work rules"
By Bytor
Third Base Politics
December 1, 2011
Link: http://thirdbasepolitics.blogspot.com/2011/12/cleveland-fire-scandal-highlights-abuse.html

"Lawmakers target NJ disability pensions"

By Jason Method
TheDailyJournal.com
November 20, 2011
Link: http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20111121/NEWS01/311210026

"Union Corruption Report: October 2011"
By LaborUnionReport.com
Link: http://www.laborunionreport.com/portal/2011/11/union-corruption-report-october-2011/


Link to prior Union Corruption Reports: http://www.laborunionreport.com/portal/category/union-corruption/union-corruption-report/

"Former fireman on Most Wanted List arrested"

By Liz Navratil
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
November 8, 2011
Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11312/1188359-100.stm

"Matthew Phillipsen: Firefighter Busted Trying to Buy 7 Balloons of Heroin, LAPD Alleges"

By Dennis Romero
LA Weekly
November 11, 2011
Link: http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/11/firefighter_heroin_lafd_lapd_drugs.php

"The Pervasive Corruption of Public Employee Unions"
By Mark Hemingway
The Weekly Standard
November 9, 2011
Link: http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/pervasive-corruption-public-employee-unions_607914.html

"L.A. Fire Department's Stone-Age Payroll System Allowed Captain Eric Vasquez to Collect an Extra $77K Last Year"

By Simone Wilson
LA Weekly
November 9, 2011
Link: http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2011/11/la_fire_department_pay_eric_vasquez.php

Excerpts (see news article cited directly above):

• For the first time ever, department officials entered their employees' timecards into a computer (magic!) -- then acted surprised to discover a little foul play. 
• L.A. Fire Captain Eric Vasquez, a 17-year veteran, had been chalking up some extra hours on his caveman's tablet.  $50,000 for 23 weeks of paid vacation last year, to be exact. On top of a $108,000 annual salary and about $27,000 more for bonuses and overtime. 
• Equally unsurprising: He was the same guy "in charge of timekeeping for the section and manually entered the information for vacation pay." 
• The Daily News reports that City Controller Wendy Greuel found around 50 more LAFD employees had made small mark-ups, as well. 
• L.A. Fire Captain Tina Haro tells the Weekly: "We're not confirming a name, but we do have a member who was placed on administrative leave with pay." 
• So it looks like Vasquez might be collecting cash on his rogue days off, once again -- though his LinkedIn profile begs to differ.

Commentary:

• The District Attorney needs to investigate the matter.
• Knowingly submitting false payroll records is a crime.

"Retired Portland police and firefighters sue city to keep pension overpayments"

By Maxine Bernstein

The Oregonian 

Published: Wednesday, September 07, 2011, 9:11 PM 

Updated: Wednesday, September 07, 2011, 11:15 PM
Link: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/09/retired_portland_police_and_fi.html

FLASHBACK: NEVER FORGET


"'Spiking' of public pensions is costing taxpayers"

By Daniel Borenstein
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 04/12/2009 12:01:00 AM PDT
Updated: 08/11/2009 04:41:57 PM PDT
Link: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_12133578?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com

Excerpt (see news artcile cited directly above):

• PETER NOWICKI, the chief of the Moraga Orinda Fire District, knows how to play the retirement system. That's why he was able to convert a $185,000 annual salary into a $241,000 yearly pension.

Commentary:

• Peter Nowicki is the ultimate public parasite.

"Fireman embezzled to buy Sharks tickets, cops say"

By Henry K. Lee
San Francisco Chronicle
October 29, 2011
Link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/29/BAGB1LNK4L.DTL

Facts (see news article cited directly above):

• The firefighter, a captain, was arrested for allegedly embezzling more than $63,000 from the firefighters' union and using the funds for San Jose Sharks season tickets and a trip to Disneyland.
• The firefighter is on probation for a 2009 misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.

Commentary:

• What makes this alleged embezzlement even more despicable is the fact that California firefighters receive obscene salaries, overtime, benefits, and pensions. 
• Pure Greed!