SkinnerL says

I think that this person truly deserves what he has got. When You want something really bad and apply all your efforts and strruggles to reach it, you always receive the profit that you have wished for. I can only congratulate this wonderful person on his success!

El Guapo says

People upset about cops retiring at an early age understand that they do not get get their full retirement unless they put 30 yrs in.   They can go at 25 as this deputy did but its not the full amount.   I believe Fire Dept's are same way.    As for cops and firefighters retiring early, look at it this way, if some 24 year old 250 pound thug was beating the life out of you would you want a 60 year old cop trying to pull same thug off you.    Also, if you were unconcious in a burning building would you want a 60 year old fire fighter try to pull you out of the building.   These can be physically demanding jobs where lives are on the line.  Military is more demanding and can retire at 20 years of service and rightfully so.

Marcus M says

TuffNutts2011, you clearly are making it up as you go and process little knowledge about the sheriffs department.  Bob Lippert was a long time road deputy, promoted to Sgt and the detective bureau for many years, promoted to Lt. and shift supervisor on the patrol division.

sanduskysteve says

The article says he was a deputy, detective and commander.  After all of those years, I would think he would have some qualifications.

If there is an unemployed person that wanted the job - why didn't they apply for it?

CAST THE FIRST STONE says

you must be a teacher or a gov employee so you see it your way only. there is 1 unemployed person out there because of this. Add up how many of these go on and the unemployment rate would drop alot

TuffNutts2011 says

He was a deputy??? I worked in Erie County for ten years and never seen the man.  Must have been one of those R.O.D. Deputies.  You know Retired On Duty. LOL.  I feel for the city of Huron.  Here come the drugs.  Maybe sandusky will catch a break now that Huron is getting a do nothing and hope it goes away chief.  Drug dealers there is a new place to set up shop.

sanduskysteve says

Again, only about half is tax money - the other half came out of his check in the first place - just like social security.

Also, he was not a sheriff - he was a deputy, I believe, they are still different positions.  He should be paid more for a job with more responsibilty shouldn't he?  I mean, if you were a clerk at K-Mart and you moved up to management - would you want to get the same pay you had as a clerk?  I doubt that very much.  How's that going to get anyone else to take the job.  No wonder they gave it to him - who else would want to move up into that position?

More responsibility - more pay - makes complete sense to me.

And since he is paying taxes - and paying into his retirement - it's almost like he's completely paying for his own retirement.  I know, I was just kidding, but the thought process is still there.

Stop worrying about someone else getting the position - it wasn't like a under the table deal and everyone knew they were looking for a police chief - and apparently no one step up to ask for it.  Probably because the pay wasn't any better.

CAST THE FIRST STONE says

No not for free but for the wage he was making as a sheriff. He should still be a sheriff if he is able to work. We are paying with tax money his retirement because he is at the end of his job. now there is a person that could of been the police chief maybe moving up in rank to make room for a out of work patrolmen and paying taxes to pay sherifs retirement. It is the same with teachers retiring early and then going back to work as teachers

sanduskysteve says

I'm sure that the Union probably has a lot to do with this - as well as some laws someplace.  Not sure who makes those decisions - but it is immaterial to his taking the position as police chief.

Hmm says

I can't speak for Cast, but MY point is what kind of system do we have the enables someone to retire at such a young age in the first place?  The money problem isn't that we want him to work for free, but I'm trying to get my head around retirement at such a young age.  If these jobs are so stressful that we must provide for such an early retirement, why would we want them back in the work force?  And if they aren't so stressful that they must retire that early, why are they able to?  Do you understand?

sanduskysteve says

Cast - I'm curious about something - wouldn't the tax payers be paying for a  police chief anyway???  Are you inferring that since he is retired and getting retirement that he should work as police chief now for free???

kURTje says

Well spoken American dad!   Reminds me of Vietnam vets coming back, joining a M.C. & then kicking the *hit out of an old Top Cop.   This position needs a younger physical man............not an oldster!

Hmm says

CAST, yep, not this guys fault.  Just out of control contracts.  If only there was some legislation to curb this...

CAST THE FIRST STONE says

he should still be working as a sheriff so we dont have to pay to replace him at his young age. so tax payers paying full retirement and tax payers paying for police chief.omg i so picked the wrong job. things are so out of whack

sanduskysteve says

It's not completely tax dollars - public sector employees also have retirement withheld from their pay just like the rest of us do.  It just doesn't go to social security - but rather into their own fund.  yes, some of the retirement is tax money, but some of it is their own money just like our social security is.  Also, they do not pay into social security and unless they have in the past, they are not entitled to social security because they didn't pay into it.  medicare, they are entitled to because they do pay into that fund.

As far as going from retirement to another job goes, as has been stated already - someone else would be working there either way so it really doesn't matter - does it?

wiredmama222 says

well, I see the war is still raging against the double dip!  And I still do not understand why it is anyone's business but the man who is doing it, publcally funded or not.  Yes, Julie, I have seen surgeons go from one hospital to another (following retirement) and flyers who do the same.  So what??? 

are you that concerned that someone will get a second pension after they have earned it?  How would that be any more costly than if the county paid it out to someone who worked there for 20 or 30 years and retired and someone took his place?  Your argument makes no sense. Perhaps you are watching too much Cleveland and Toledo exposure TV news.  They LOVE to sensastionalize whatever they find up there. 

I still say none of this is anyone's business when the person isn't doing anything wrong. 

grr says

good luck in your crusade

Hmm says

My grudge is not against those who do this.  Its against those establish the system and those who fight against changing it.

Hmm says

Sure I would, but that doesn't make it right or mean that it shouldn't be changed.  These are our tax dollars.

grr says

you would probably do the same thing if you could

Hmm says

Ameican Dad - doesn't the fact that they double dip mean they don't need to retire?  This guy retired at 46 but obviously has some years left in or he wouldn't be taking this job.  How do you justify that?

czechurself says

If I understand correctly, it is not financially promising to retire from a position in law enforcement, so my question is why do it and then go back to work in the field of law enforcement?  I dont care that Lippert may take the position with HPD I am asking an honest question. 

Amerian Dad says

@HMM.............do you honestly want Sheriff's Deputies, Police Officers, and Fire Fighters working at 60, 65, 70 years of age?  I don't! Puts them at risk and it puts the general public at risk.  Engineers, teachers, administrative positions can still be productive at that age.......... Not Safety Forces, dealing with what most of you can't fathom.........

Amerian Dad says

Maybe if you whinners out there would realize retirement for Law Enforcement is not that promising when it comes to monthly income.  So he has chosen to take another job.  A lot of people retire from their jobs and go back to work.  Get over yourselves...................wow.

There's no doubt in my mind that Bob will be a very good Chief for Huron and will do an outstanding job.  It's my opinion and you all are intitled to yours but I know Bob on a personal and professional level, I don't care what yours is!!

tired of stupidy says

good luck on your new job ROBERT!  when these people went to work  at these gov. jobs they did not pay as good as private sector jobs. it took a long time for the pay scale to rise to where it is today. all this discussion wouldnt  be a issue if the private sector  jobs were still here.THE MONEY PAID INTO RETIREMENT ACCTS. IS THAT PERSON'S MONEY IT WAS INCLUDED IN THERE CONTRACT. THESE EMPLOYEES PUT UP WITH A LOT OF B.S. IN ORDER TO GET IN 25 0R 30 YEARS. BEEN THERE !

Hmm says

The real issue here is not the double dipping, but the fact that we have a system that enables people to retire at such a young age. 

KnuckleDragger says

@ Marcus says, Most of the critics of "double dipping" were never qualified to hold any public employment.

Just FYI, I am a critic and I do qualify to hold public employment, in fact I retired from the military.  To be fair, I work in the Private sector, and though I receive a pension, I pay into my own retirement plan at work.

EZOB says

KnuckleDragger,

        I agree 100% with your post.  Not to be forgotten is that government workers out-number private sector workers.  The percentage is tilted more every day.  Our economy is showing the results of many plans that just can't possibly continue.  Most of the people working in positions whose taxpayer dollars pay for their retirement are the ones that support bigger government.

DGMutley says

perspective says

 Not sure if everyone is aware, but police and fire doesn't pay into social security, nor are they eligible to receive social security benefits....

Julie R. says

If people in the private sector retire at the age of 62 and then go back to work, they can only make up to so much a year. (I believe it's only $14 or $15 thousand) If they make OVER that amount, that portion will be taken out of their social security. So how is THAT double-dipping?  People in the public sector can retire one day and go back to work in the same field the next day and there's no limit at all at what they can make. I also believe --- but I'm not quite certain of this --- if they get five years in at the 2nd job they will be eligible for a 2nd retirement. I know Channel 19 is ALWAYS exposing the public officials that are doing this and calling them DOUBLE-DIPPERS. The last one they exposed retired from his $150,000 a year job, went back to work in another government job making well over $100 grand a year, retired again after so many years and they then found out that two weeks later he went back to work AGAIN doing the same job he retired from.  

Woody Hayes says

That time of the month, Knuckle Head?

Fireside says

Hey Sandusky City Commission, Please read Andy Whites last pargraph as it relates to Police and budgets. Hopefully you understand what he is saying.

old dog says

Just maybe, Julie R, ( the queen of the mother ship) should start complaining about all of the teachers that double dip also.  That will keep her busy!!

DGMutley says

" ... I say if they want to come out of retirement and work again in the public sector, their retirement check should stop until such time as they retire permanently."<KnuckleDragger

I agree with your statement with some qualification.  Although "double dipping" may include anyone who is drawing a retirement and goes back to work my objection is to the person who goes back to work under the same retirement program he was working under originally.  In that case the person is essentially being paid twice what he should be being paid. 

Taxed Enough Already says

 to wiredmama222,  whenever someone works for the public (meaning paid by taxpayers dollars) it IS everyone's business where they make their money from and exactly how much they earn.  That's just the way it is.  There are websites that tell you exactly what a public employee as well as teachers make.  All you have to know is their name, type it in and there you are.  It's part of working for the taxpayers.

Marcus M says

Most of the critics of "double dipping" were never qualified to hold any public employment. Hiring a retired public servant tends to reduce the total compensation, benefits for the position they are being rehired for.

wetsu says

Then you better cross Rick Perry off your list of presidential options, he's drawing $92,000 retirement since last January on top of the going rate of $150,000 as gov.

Knuckle-

Can Lippert drive the bus? 

doppleganger says

HAHAHAHA!      So True!

KnuckleDragger says

@ woody hayes, you should consider that every time you open your mouth you sound like an idiot.  I can't remember the last comment you made that added anything to the conversation, talk about being the Capt. of the mothership.

KnuckleDragger says

@mythoughts, I have no problem with a retired person working.  The problem is when a retired government worker does it, is that we are paying for both.  He may have earned the retirement, but it was funded mostly by the taxpayers and now when he becomes police chief he continues to draw his retirement and his salary.  I say if they want to come out of retirement and work again in the public sector, their retirement check should stop until such time as they retire permanently.

@ cityslicker, the difference between the private sector and public sector retirement is that in the private sector your retirement is funded by you and/or your employer, in the public sector it is funded by everyones tax dollars.  If you go back to work in a private sector job and are using social security, if you make over a certain amount they will take away a portion of of your social security.  If you are living on a public sector job pension, it doesn't matter how much you make, there is no adjustment.

wetsu says

KD-

So can he drive a Head Start bus or not? 

Hmm says

If anything, the fact that this is fairly common among gov't employees shows that their retirement system is too generous and allows them to retire too early (wouldn't we all like that?).   Retirement is supposed to take care of us when we can no longer work. 

KnuckleDragger says

@wetsu, have them release the list of applicants, you can bet that there were plenty of qualified applicants that were NOT already retired, hence they would not have been double dipping. 

DGMutley says

I agree with Cityslicker.  I don't see how this is double dipping.

Cityslicker says

I fail to see how this is "double dipping" He will not be enrolled in the pension system, and therefore it will actually save the Huron taxpayers money. And besides, you never hear anybody complain when someone retires from the private sector, and becomes re-employed. Good Luck Chief Lippert.

Julie R. says

Ever hear of a heart surgeon retiring from one hospital only to take a job at another hospital? Ever hear of an airplane pilot retiring from one airline only to take a job at another airline? Why does it seem like it's only the government jobs that do this? Like the rent-a-judge scam --- it's mandatory for judges to retire at the age of 70 yet there's 80 and 90 year-old judges out there constantly being appointed to cases.  (especially in Erie County)

MYthoughtsare says

I disagree.  If a person wants a job bad enough then they will seek out the job and get it.  I can remember applying everywhere I thought was in my field whether they were hiring or not.  I thought this would be the best thing to do for the best odds of getting a job.  All the people I hear saying they cannot find work are mostly the ones who don't try hard enough or even want a job.  They just want to take unemployment while they can get it.  If you want a job then get off your butt and find one.  There are jobs out there.  Any job is better than no job.  As Americans, we can be spoiled and wait for the right job... just get out there and get one, any one... until something better comes along.  I highly doubt very many people were qualified for this particular job and could do the job this man could do.  Law enforcement is not an easy job.  Just saying.....

Exxcellent says

I think the double dipping is a pension issue. Someone retires  and collects a pension from a taxpayer funded job, then goes back to work for a public entity and gets even more benefits. That's my take on the double dipping issue. I can't say I wouldn't do it if given the opportunity, but I think that's why people get upset.

Hmm says

If you want to make the arguement that double dipping keeps a job from someone else, that's one thing.  But to say "No wonder Erie County is so far in debt" shows a lack of understanding.  If I'm not mistaken, often the benefits package is cheaper for double dippers, so it actually SAVES the taxpayer money.