WASHINGTON POST

DISGRACE:

NEWSPAPER SAYS

DISABLED COPS

"DON'T DESERVE"

BENEFITS

Anonymous Editorial Writers Continue to

Attack County Police, Press Special Interest Agenda

Can anyone remember an issue on which the Washington Post has expended so much time, energy, and ink as it has on the police disability retirement issue in Montgomery County?

We know the Post's, Ike Leggett's, and the County Council's agenda: create a fake scandal, make disabled police officers scapegoats for the county's self-inflicted budget crisis, and steal the retirement money from disabled cops to give to the developers and other special interests.

Now the Post hits a new low, with yesterday's editorial in which it stated that disabled police officers "don't deserve" disability retirement benefits.

This hit newsstands shortly after several horrific incidents around the nation, in which many police officers were killed in the line of duty.

Such tragic events remind most civilized people of the dangers and realities that our police officers face each day. But twisted minds such as those of the editorial board at the Post are inspired to respond in a more disgusting and despicable manner: by telling the world - again - that our police are somehow "ripping off" the taxpayer, when there is no evidence to back up that claim. And now adding that disabled cops "don't deserve" benefits.

It's outrageous.

The story continues to be entirely one-sided, so let's review a few facts:

1. The current disability system works, and was agreed to without complaint by Ike Leggett and every member of the County Council. No one, including the Post, complained at the time.

2. The Post's own investigation revealed that not one single officer has committed a fraud or improperly received benefits. All officers had a genuine disability.

3. That means that the proposed "reform" of the system is now guaranteed to deny retirement benefits to some, or even a majority of, disabled police officers.

The union should not concede anything on this, as there is a legally binding agreement. No officer should be denied benefits. A vote is now scheduled for April 28, unless the union caves in to the executive and council's illegal refusal to honor a labor contract.

I believe the elected officials who have disparaged our police should step down immediately. And that the Washington Post's unsigned editorials "don't deserve" to be taken seriously.