State PBA president calls DiVincenzo a 'fraud' for calling for pension reform while collecting one on top of his salary
The head of the state's largest police union called for Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. to quit in the wake of revelations that he is receiving a salary and a pension for the same job.NEWARK — The state's largest police union called on Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. to resign today in the wake of revelations that he is receiving a salary and a pension for the same job.
"This is unbelievable, the man is out yelling about reform and he takes a loophole to retire at a higher salary, a classic example of do as I say not as I do," State Policemen's Benevolent Association President Anthony Wieners said in a statement. "This exposes him as a fraud and just another politician who lies to the public."
DiVincenzo quietly put in his retirement papers in August, allowing him to start drawing a $5,738 monthly pension payment. But a loophole allows him to continue serving in the same position, earning $153,207 last year. State law allows elected officials in the public employee and police pension systems to "retire" but keep working.
DiVincenzo's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment this morning. In an interview Wednesday, DiVincenzo said he has done nothing wrong by collecting his pension after 29 years of public service.
"It’s something I earned," he said. "Why shouldn’t I be able to collect my pension?"
DiVincenzo, a Democrat, has clashed with law enforcement unions as he works with Republican Gov. Chris Christie to rollback pension and health care benefits for public employees.
On Thursday a Christie spokesman declined to comment on DiVincenzo's pension, but said the governor supports removing the loophole.