Two Seneca Falls police officers are urging town leaders to correct a clerical mistake that placed them in the wrong state retirement plan, according to the Finger Lakes Times. Lt. Tom Cleere and Sgt. Bethany Kidd say the 2014 error means they must serve 40 years instead of the standard 20 to qualify for a pension.
Both officers told the Town Board they were promised the 20-year police plan and learned of the error in 2023. Supporters, including the Police Benevolent Association president and Kidd’s father, called the delay in fixing the issue “unconscionable” and warned of possible litigation.
Town Supervisor Frank Schmitter, a retired trooper, said resolving the matter could cost about $500,000 but pledged to work toward a solution.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].