Officers claim less than most

Dave Brooks

Fewer retiring Huntington Beach Police collect disability than those

in neighboring cities, a total that pleases one city councilman who

had wondered about the numbers following a worker’s compensation

settlement last month between the city and a former

officer-turned-councilman.

About half the police who retire in Huntington Beach file some

sort of cumulative disability claim upon leaving the force, much

lower than neighboring cities such Costa Mesa that report nearly

three-fourths of police opt for the additional funding to augment

their retirement.

Costa Mesa personnel department official Michelle Gillette

estimated that about 90% of police in the city ask for the worker’s

compensation benefit upon leaving the city. Often the claim is for

unspecified damages sustained throughout the course of their career.

Linda Cahill of Garden Grove estimated that about 75% of police

officers filed for the claim, while an official in the personnel

department in Newport Beach said she couldn’t give a specific figure

“but it was definitely more than half.”

Councilman Dave Sullivan said he was happy to see that the number

was low.

“I’m please to hear that the figure is lower than other Orange

County cities,” he said.

Councilman Gil Coerper is one of the retired Huntington Beach

police officers that filed the claim. Coerper, who runs a small

drywall business, settled his cumulative trauma claim with the city

worth about $121,382 that will be paid out to him over the next 10

years. The claims are for unspecified damages sustained during the

length of his 20 years with the police department to his “whole

body,” according to his filing with the Worker’s Compensation Appeals

Board.

City Atty. Jennifer McGrath said about 10 similar claims have been

filed over the past five years.

Gillette said a more common approach is for police and public

safety officials to apply for what is known as a disability

retirement, authorized when a doctor certifies that an officer can’t

work anymore. The system is popular because 50% of the income earned

through the state-mandated benefit is tax-free.

“This is something that they’ve caught wind of and its become a

real trend,” she said.

To qualify for the program, an officer must have a doctor sign off

that the officer is unable to continue to perform his duties and

should be granted retirement benefits early. The city’s personnel

department must approve the request.