With perpetual belt tightening happening everywhere, especially in government, it’s time to weigh in on pensions. The Union-Tribune did a “Watchdog” story on San Diego pensions.
Among the top 20 pensioners targeted was our Chief of Police, David Bejarano. Very few of the 20 responded to the U-T’s request for an interview. Kudos to Bejarano for his courage because he probably figured the story would be a hit piece. Judging by the comments of the online bloggers, it was.
In case you missed it, Bejarano toiled for many years as a San Diego cop, eventually rising to the chief’s position. He receives a nice pension. The watchdog reporter noted that Bejarano now rakes in $191,000 as Chula Vista’s chief, along with $139,747 as a San Diego retiree.
Bejarano said what every single cop in the world knows to be true: Retirement was the last thing he was thinking about when he put on a police uniform and started out in a patrol car.
Back in 1969 when I became a cop, I was concerned about getting through probation. I thought maybe someday I might be a detective, or perhaps a sergeant, but a retiree? Never. I was going to live and work forever without injury, illness, or burnout.
Back then, police departments barely paid a living wage. True, we did not have to get second jobs like our predecessors, but we had to budget our money carefully. When our children were young my wife did not work outside the home and we watched every penny.
Local government expanded because people wanted it to expand. People didn’t want their buildings to fall down so cities hired inspectors with technical knowledge. That’s why a strong earthquake in California ends up with some broken teacups, while a lesser temblor in a foreign country results in considerable damage and loss of life.
Building inspection is just one example. People demand skill from the government, and if the public wants skilled workers, they must pay. The fiscal attraction for a government job wasn’t money, but rather a pension and civil service protection. Lower wages was an acceptable trade off.
When I started, we had to contribute a sizeable portion of our salary into the pension fund. Some government entities now make the retirement contribution for the employees. That benefit came about as a result of collective bargaining, a give-and-take process between workers and the city.
The private sector made their bucks up front, while us government folk deferred ours to later. Both had advantages, but you made your choices.
Today, government wages are comparable to many in the private sector. But, the skill level demanded is comparable, too. Yesterday’s cops only had to be tough and honest. Today, they have to be smart too.
Bejarano also said the chief has a 7-day-a-week job, and it’s the truth. He’s always on the hot seat and has to respond to every crackpot group with an agenda, along with the righteous ones too.
I worked many holidays, and there were countless callouts that interrupted my family’s life. Sure, I received a modest callout fee, and time and a half for the work I did. But the sacrifices I made because of loyalty and dedication were not adequately compensated with money.
I sat across the table interviewing rapists, child molesters, and their victims, along with several murderers. I did what many of you wouldn’t want to do. It ain’t like TV.
We cops didn’t force the city officials to give what we earned. The citizens have the power to remedy what they don’t like.
Basinski is a 35-year police veteran, 17 of them with Chula Vista. His column appears the first and third week of the month. Basinski lives in Chula Vista. His website is www.tombasinski.com.
