R.U.D.E., or How We Get in Trouble - Metropolitan Alliance of Police
R.U.D.E., or How We Get in Trouble - Metropolitan Alliance of Police
R.U.D.E., or How We Get in Trouble - Metropolitan Alliance of Police
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Pensions and You: Marriage and pensions<br />
by Joseph Brank<strong>in</strong><br />
Recently a retired/disabled member <strong>of</strong> the Bol<strong>in</strong>gbrook<br />
<strong>Police</strong> Pension Fund passed away. His death rem<strong>in</strong>ds all <strong>of</strong><br />
us <strong>of</strong> a little known but very imp<strong>or</strong>tant provision <strong>in</strong> the pension<br />
code regard<strong>in</strong>g MARRIAGE AFTER RETIREMENT.<br />
(40 ILCS 5/3‐120) (from Ch. 108 1/2, par. 3‐120)<br />
Sec. 3‐120. Marriage after retirement.<br />
(a) If a police <strong>of</strong>ficer marries subsequent to retirement<br />
on any pension under this Article other than a pension<br />
established under Section 3‐109.3, the surviv<strong>in</strong>g spouse<br />
and the children <strong>of</strong> such surviv<strong>in</strong>g spouse shall receive no<br />
pension on the death <strong>of</strong> the <strong>of</strong>ficer, except as provided <strong>in</strong><br />
subsection (b).<br />
b) Notwithstand<strong>in</strong>g Section 1‐103.1 <strong>of</strong> this Code, this<br />
Section shall not be deemed to disqualify from receiv<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a surviv<strong>or</strong>’s pension the surviv<strong>in</strong>g spouse and children<br />
<strong>of</strong> any police <strong>of</strong>ficer who (i) retired from service <strong>in</strong> 1973,<br />
married the surviv<strong>in</strong>g spouse dur<strong>in</strong>g 1974, and died<br />
<strong>in</strong> 1988, <strong>or</strong> (ii) retired on disability <strong>in</strong> October <strong>of</strong> 1982,<br />
married the surviv<strong>in</strong>g spouse dur<strong>in</strong>g 1991, and died <strong>in</strong><br />
1992. In the case <strong>of</strong> a person who becomes eligible f<strong>or</strong> a<br />
benefit under this subsection (b), the benefit shall beg<strong>in</strong><br />
to accrue on July 1, 1990 <strong>or</strong> July 1 <strong>of</strong> the year follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the police <strong>of</strong>ficer’s death, whichever is later.<br />
(Source: P.A. 91‐939, eff. 2‐1‐01.)<br />
His surviv<strong>in</strong>g spouse subsequent to the pass<strong>in</strong>g away, applied<br />
f<strong>or</strong> a cont<strong>in</strong>uation <strong>of</strong> benefits pursuant to Article 3 <strong>of</strong> the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois<br />
<strong>Police</strong> Pension Code. Her application was denied by the<br />
Board cit<strong>in</strong>g section 40 ILCS 5/3-120.<br />
None <strong>of</strong> us relish the thought <strong>of</strong> our own death, but it happens<br />
to us all. When we retire, either on a Disability <strong>or</strong> Service Pension,<br />
we must be aware that a marriage follow<strong>in</strong>g a retirement<br />
does not carry the same benefits to the spouse <strong>or</strong> children as the<br />
same benefits assigned to a marriage pri<strong>or</strong> to retirement.<br />
Cops writ<strong>in</strong>g cops Internet site<br />
By: Joseph M. Andal<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Cops writ<strong>in</strong>g cops has appeared <strong>in</strong> cyberspace. I was wonder<strong>in</strong>g<br />
how long it would take f<strong>or</strong> someth<strong>in</strong>g like this to<br />
develop.<br />
There really is a need, if only to rem<strong>in</strong>d the starry-eyed rookie<br />
that no matter what the big brass tells you, <strong>or</strong> the academics <strong>in</strong><br />
the academy, it a<strong>in</strong>’t always necessary to “write” your brother <strong>or</strong><br />
sister <strong>of</strong>ficer. Even some veteran <strong>of</strong>ficers need a rem<strong>in</strong>der once<br />
<strong>in</strong> a while.<br />
Justice will prevail without one <strong>of</strong> us tagg<strong>in</strong>g another copper.<br />
You are not on that slippery slope <strong>of</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g above the law that<br />
some people <strong>or</strong> the brass will throw at you if you won’t write<br />
coppers like everyone else.<br />
I’ve seen plenty <strong>of</strong> brass cry<strong>in</strong>g when they couldn’t get a “pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
courtesy” from another agency when their wife <strong>or</strong> kid<br />
caught a ticket. Same goes f<strong>or</strong> the one <strong>or</strong> two guys <strong>in</strong> every<br />
department who would write their mothers.<br />
Not stopp<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>or</strong> the stop sign at their own PD lot just doesn’t<br />
seem to apply to them. There may be fodder f<strong>or</strong> a larger st<strong>or</strong>y<br />
here <strong>in</strong> the future. Who knows, we’ll see if this <strong>of</strong>fends some <strong>in</strong><br />
law enf<strong>or</strong>cement. <strong>We</strong> are <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> your attitudes about this<br />
issue <strong>of</strong> cops writ<strong>in</strong>g cops. Let us know when you read some <strong>of</strong><br />
this stuff on the website. It’s obvious that some guys did deserve<br />
the paper—no question. Other times, why write a fellow copper<br />
Real excessive speed and a bad attitude always equals a citation.<br />
But is it so bad to give a copper a break People give breaks and<br />
discounts to fellow doct<strong>or</strong>s, lawyers, and plumbers all the time.<br />
Even cops give warn<strong>in</strong>g tickets, so why not warn first and cite<br />
later if the problem is repeated<br />
I have no shame <strong>in</strong> tell<strong>in</strong>g you that my fellow brother and sister<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficers always did and will get the benefit <strong>of</strong> the doubt. Many<br />
<strong>of</strong> you feel the same way, too. There are, <strong>of</strong> course, a couple <strong>of</strong><br />
exceptions, but we have to take care <strong>of</strong> our own.<br />
Anyway, check it out—some <strong>of</strong> the stuff will br<strong>in</strong>g a chuckle.<br />
www.copswrit<strong>in</strong>gcops.com<br />
Page The Rap Sheet W<strong>in</strong>ter 2006