Politics & Government

Watchdog Group: Middlesex County Sheriff, Undersheriff Among State's 'Double-Dippers'

Mildred Scott and her opponent in November's election, Jose Martinez, both collect pensions. Collecting a pension and a sheriff's salary is not illegal in New Jersey.

Middlesex County Sheriff  Mildred Scott is among 80 percent of sheriffs in the state who are "double dippers," meaning they collect state pensions after retiring from their previous positions in law enforcement in addition to their sheriff’s salary, according to New Jersey Watchdog.

Undersheriff Kevin Harris topped New Jersey Watchdog's list of 29 "double dipping" undersheriffs.

They are among a total of 46 top cops who make a total of $8.3 million a year between their salaries and pensions.

Scott collects a total of $191,198, including a $61,248 pension in addition to the $128,547 salary, according to the report. Scott is up for re-election, but it may not matter who wins at the polls on Nov. 5. Scott’s opponent, Jose Martinez, collects a $78,060 pension, according to the report.

Scott is the incumbent Democrat. She is a former chief sheriff officer, lieutenant and sergeant in the sheriff’s office.

Martinez is a retired detective with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

Bay collects $221,985, about $30,000 more than his boss. His pension accounts for $105,480 of his total, and is about $44,000 more than Scott’s pension. His salary is  $116,505, according to the report.  He previously worked in the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.

Harris is a former Piscataway Police Chief.

Collecting both a pension and a salary is not illegal in New Jersey because loopholes in the system allow for officers to retire young and collect a pension and return to public service, according to the report.

State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-11) and state Sen. Steven Oroho (R-24) are co-sponsoring legislation that would suspend pension payments to retirees who return to public service. The bill was introduced in 2011, but has not yet made it out of committee, according to the report.


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