Ex-Cop Convicted Of Lewd Acts With A 16-Year-Old Still Gets Benefits

ABC Action News Tampa has uncovered several instances of taxpayer dollars “going to officers who resigned in disgrace, were fired, or even convicted of crimes.”

For instance, the ABC Action News I-Team is reporting that

“[f]ormer Tampa Police officer Paul Federico resigned in the midst of a disciplinary hearing on allegations he had [relations] with a 16-year old girl. He was convicted and he’s now a registered sex offender. But none of that disqualifies him from collecting his taxpayer-funded pension. Since 2004, he’s gotten $461,648 in benefits.”

The I-Team spoke with former State Senator Mike Bennett who readily admitted the pension system has serious flaws, such as the fact that in most plans police officers can only lose their pension for felony convictions for crimes committed in the course of performing their official duties or if they defraud the pension system itself.

“I’m certainly not happy about them getting a pension, drawing down $70,000 or $80,000 a year,” Bennett said.

“When you’ve got somebody who’s been a severe violator of the law, to have them benefit from the system is a problem,” he added.

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Ex-Cop Convicted Of Lewd Acts With A 16-Year-Old Still Gets Benefits (VIDEO)