May 9, 2000
Honorable Gary Locke,
Governor, State of Washington

Dear Governor Locke,

I would like to commend you on signing into law the reduction of the retirement age for LEOFF 2. As a member of the Law Enforcement community, the recognition that the Police Officers and Firefighters of this state receive regarding their important issues brightens the gloomy days that typically involve the dangerous job they deal with every day. The fact that the Legislators in this state are proactive enough to understand how a reduction in the retirement age is advantageous to all in LEOFF 2, as well as the citizens of this state, is a fact that everyone in the Law Enforcement community should be proud of.

As a member of the Law Enforcement Community, I would like to address an issue that is important to every Corrections Officer in the State of Washington. Members of the Washington State Jail Association have continued to voice the retirement issue to their respective Legislative representatives. We continually hear how the retirement age for Corrections personnel is too high, yet we have been stonewalled in our efforts to reduce the retirement age of Corrections Officers.

Statistics continue to show that we can expect some of the same problems that Police Officers and Firefighters deal with when reaching their later years. Lower life expectancy, alcoholism, cancer and divorce are just a few of the issues. In the last three years I have watched ten members of the Corrections field pass away. Of these, only two reached the retirement age of 65 years. Two recently passed away in one weekend of which neither had reached the age of 50. It pains every Corrections Officer in the state when one of our colleagues fails to reach the goal we are all looking for, the pleasure of retirement.

I personally don’t understand the Legislators in this state who do not take seriously the issues Corrections Officer have. We work in an environment that is ninety-five percent negative. We are called names, assaulted and have everything you can imagine thrown at us. Yet, we are professionals taking our job very seriously. We know no other way. Our brothers in the Law Enforcement Community support our efforts, yet it is not addressed due to the negative nature of our work. The Police Officer has contact with the negative side of society for a brief moment compared to the time a Corrections Officer spends with these individuals. We live, breathe and eat with these individuals, at the same time providing safety and security for ourselves as well as society as a whole. Society does not want to know what goes on inside the walls of the institutions, except that the “bad people” are locked up. We deal with these “bad people” on a daily basis.

I understand that each Legislator has an agenda and goals which are specific to their respective districts in which they reside. I would not want it any other way. I also believe the Legislators in this state need to step up to the plate, grab the bat and take a stronger cut at reducing the retirement age for Corrections personnel. Anything else would be a half-hearted bunt attempt. I have seen what the Legislators, as well as yourself, can do when they focus on the task at hand. I know this can be done and it can be done in a way that works for all involved.

The Washington State Jail Association does not want a handout. We are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. I ask you to do the right thing and work with us, meet with us and focus on an important issue for every Corrections Officer in the State of Washington.

Sincerely,
Sergeant William Hayes, President,
Washington State Jail Association

The Reply:

July 6, 2000

Sergeant William Hayes, President
Washington State Jail Association
PO Box 328
Lynnwood, Wa 98046

Dear Sergeant Hayes:

Thank you for your kind words regarding my support and approval of legislation (ESSB 6530) to lower the retirement age for members of the Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System (LEOFF) Plan 2. I was pleased that the Legislature acted upon this measure, which was similar to one I had introduced this past session. As a former deputy prossecutor, I share your appriciation for the dangerous jobs perfromed by those who make our community. I share your appreciation for the dangerous jobs performed by those who make our communities safer, and I agree tha LEOFF members deserve a quality retirement in exchange for a job well done.

I understand your concern for Corrections Officers and their desire to also gain a lower retirement age. While ESSB 6530 does not lower the retirement age for members of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) Plan 2, it does include provisions similar to those I proposed that will enable career employees greater access to their existing early retirement benefit. As such, PERS 2 members who are at least 55 years of age with 30 years of service may now retire early with a greatly reduced penalty assessed against their benefit. Moreover, through the creation of a new, optional Plan 3, PERS members will have much greater flexibility in their retirement options.

I recognize that a number of people in public-safety related jobs such as yours feel that their service would be better rewarded through moving to the LEOFF retirement system. Unfortunately, the cost of such a move is high for those individuals and employers, which explains much of the legislative reluctance you noted in your letter. When this cost was last analyzed, it exceeded $100,000 for each PERS 2 member transferred to LEOFF 2.

However, I am encouraged that the Legislature's Joint Committee on Pension Policy supported putting the LEOFF membership issue on the 2000 interim agenda. The committee's schedule indicates that members intend to address this subject at their August 16, 2000 meeting (at a place and location yet to be determined). I understand that the committee intends to look at both additional benefits to public-safety related employees who are members of PERS, and whether or not membership in LEOFF should be more broad. I encourage you to share your thoughts with the committee members in advance of their August meeting.

Again, thank you for your letter and for the public service you and the members of your association provide ot the people of Washington.

---------Sincerely,

-----Gary Locke
-----Governor

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