Philadelphia could rehire retired cops, other employees to address staffing shortages under a new proposal
Officers salute at a memorial service honoring fallen police officers and firefighters. A new proposal being considered by City Council would allow Philadelphia to rehire retired city employees as a means of filling vacancies when public safety is at risk.
by Anna OrsoPublished May 27, 2022
Philadelphia City Council is considering a proposal that would allow the city to fill vacancies — including in the Police Department — with retired employees who could continue receiving pension payments while also earning a paycheck.
The legislation, introduced Thursday by Council Majority Leader Cherelle Parker, is being touted as one way to address hundreds of vacancies in the Police Department, which has struggled to recruit and retain officers amid a nationwide shortage and a spike in gun violence in the city.
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But if adopted, the policy shift would apply to all city employees. Parker highlighted that the Department of Prisons is short hundreds of correctional officers, and the Department of Licenses and Inspections has seen a mass exodus of inspectors, prompting concerns about building safety.
Under the legislation, the mayor would have to declare that an extraordinary circumstance exists and threatens the “public health, safety and welfare of the city” in order to rehire retired employees without having their pension benefits suspended. The administration would also have to identify specific departments and the types of employees who would be rehired, and City Council could reject the declaration. Read More