The president of the Retired Police Association of Greenwich (RPAoG) has written to residents accusing the Town of leaving former officers without meaningful pension increases for the last 20 years despite sharp rises in living costs.
Former officers call for action on pension and COLA
Frank J Kiernan, who identified himself in a letter to the editor as president of the RPAoG and a police retiree, set out a series of figures comparing static pension payments with escalating costs for healthcare and other essentials. He said there has not been “a single increase in the pension for 20 years”.
“If the widows and retirees need money, they can refinance their homes….”
Mr Kiernan said that over the same period: health insurance rose 188%, Medicare rose 129%, and prescription drug costs rose 300%. He also cited a 40% increase in State income tax and described Greenwich property taxes as among the highest in the nation.
Allegations about pension board and contract differences
The letter criticises the Town Pension Board for declining to discuss pension increases at its meetings and recounts an unsympathetic remark by a board member. Mr Kiernan contrasted the position of retirees with changes negotiated for active officers: he noted a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) secured by the Silver Shield in 2019, which he said was not applied retroactively and excluded those who retired before 2019 and their widows.
- RPAoG president says pensions unchanged for two decades.
- Retirees face steep increases in healthcare and prescription costs.
- 2019 COLA for current officers did not benefit earlier retirees or widows.
The letter also appealed to residents’ sense of civic duty, reminding them that many retired officers remain vigilant and willing to help in emergencies. Mr Kiernan said the sense of community among officers described in recent local commentary is not reflected in how retirees are treated by town governance.
| Item | Change cited |
|---|---|
| Health insurance | +188% |
| Medicare | +129% |
| Prescription drugs | +300% |
| State income tax | +40% |
The concerns raised by Mr Kiernan touch on broader questions of public-sector retirement security and intergenerational fairness in municipal contracts. For readers seeking clarity, town residents may wish to consult the minutes of the Pension Board and recent collective bargaining agreements to see how COLAs have been applied and which cohorts were covered.
As this story develops, InfoRadar will seek comment from the Town Pension Board and the town administration on the claims made by the RPAoG and on any plans to review pension arrangements for retired officers and surviving spouses.
