A former Harrison firefighter who retired on disability two years ago — and immediately went to work for a fire department in North Carolina — will no longer draw a check from the state of New Jersey. Following inquiries by The Star-Ledger, the state Division of Pensions and Benefits cut off its payments to Herman Ellis, 39, who works...
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Former Harrison firefighter Herman Gregory Ellis, now a firefighter in Raleigh, N.C., was charged in March with assaulting his girlfriend. Ellis, 39, is one of 248 officers and firefighters who received anabolic steroids or hormones from Jersey City physician Joseph Colao. Ellis retired from the Harrison Fire Department in November 2008 with an accidental disability pension.A former Harrison firefighter who retired on disability two years ago — and immediately went to work for a fire department in North Carolina — will no longer draw a check from the state of New Jersey.
Following inquiries by The Star-Ledger, the state Division of Pensions and Benefits cut off its payments to Herman Ellis, 39, who works as a full-time, able-bodied firefighter in Raleigh, N.C.
Ellis has received more than $60,000 in disability pension payments since his retirement in November 2008. The suspension of his $2,500 monthly benefit is effective Jan. 1, according to the pensions division.
The Star-Ledger profiled Ellis’ case Monday, the second day of a three-part series on the use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone by New Jersey law enforcement officers and firefighters.
A three-part Star-Ledger series on the secret world of steroid use by law enforcement officers and firefighters.
• About this series
• List of law enforcement agencies, fire departments
• Glossary of terms
Part 1: Sunday
• N.J. doctor supplied steroids to hundreds of law enforcement officers, firefighters
• Five deaths in 19 months linked to steroids, Lowen's pharmacy
• Legal cases linked to N.J. police who received steroids through Dr. Colao
• Ex-Jets quarterback Ray Lucas was prescribed steroids, HGH by Dr. Colao
Part 2: Today
• N.J. taxpayers get bill for millions in steroid, growth hormone prescriptions for cops, firefighters
• Ex-Harrison firefighter on disability works full-time for N.C. fire department
• N.J. lawmaker calls on attorney general to investigate steroids, HGH use among law enforcement
Part 3: Tuesday
• Booming anti-aging business relies on risky mix of steroids, growth hormone
More coverage:
• N.J. Attorney Gen. Dow forms panel to investigate illegal steroid use by law enforcement officers
• N.J. suspends disability benefits for ex-Harrison firefighter working in N.C. fire department
Ellis, a former Montclair resident, was one of 248 officers and firefighters to have received the substances through a Jersey City doctor, Joseph Colao, who often faked diagnoses to justify his prescriptions, the newspaper found. Colao died in August 2007.
Ellis has not responded to requests for comment.
The medical details of Ellis’ disability retirement are not public record. The monthly payments he received came from the New Jersey Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, which is funded through tax dollars, employee contributions and investments.
The retirement system’s board of trustees will take up Ellis’ case during a meeting Jan. 10, according to a spokesman for the state Treasury Department, which administers the fund.
The board could order Ellis to take a physical exam. If the firefighter is found able-bodied, the board could then cut off his benefits permanently and seek restitution.
Ellis makes $37,485 as a Raleigh firefighter. In an earlier interview, Raleigh Fire Chief John McGrath said he was troubled by the appearance of double-dipping.
On Tuesday, McGrath said that after consulting with the Raleigh city attorney, he had taken "appropriate measures" in dealing with Ellis. He declined to elaborate, calling it a personnel issue.
For the moment, Ellis remains on the job.
Separately, Ellis is facing a criminal charge that he assaulted his girlfriend in Raleigh earlier this year. The girlfriend was not injured during the incident. Ellis is scheduled to stand trial in that case in March.
Staff writer Amy Brittain contributed to this report.
Related coverage:
• N.J. lawmaker calls on attorney general to investigate steroids, HGH use among law enforcement
• Hoboken to investigate illegal steroid use among public safety officers