Longtime Ocean County Sheriff William L. Polhemus has collected $929,793 in pension payments since he retired as Seaside Heights police chief back in the 1980s, according to a report by New Jersey Watchdog.
Polhemus, 84, currently receives $165,941 a year — $122,669 in salary plus a $43,272 pension as a retired Seaside Heights police chief, the report states.
"At age 84, Polhemus is the Republican nominee running for a tenth term, the report states. "If he wins, he’ll become a full-fledged, double-dipping pension millionaire."
Polhemus is running against Democrat George "Bob" Armstrong and Independent John McMenamin in the race for Ocean County Sheriff. Polhemus spent 35 years in the Seaside Heights police department.
Both McMenamin and Armstrong also draw pensions as retired law enforcement officers.
McMenamin receives a $90,398 a year tax-free disability pension. McMenamin was injured in a 2006 on-duty accident involving an all-terrain-vehicle as a Stafford Township police officer.
While the state considers him to be "totally and permanently disabled," McMenamin contends his disability would not impair his ability to serve as sheriff, according to New Jersey Watchdog.
"If McMenamin wins, his take from the public trough would go up to $213,067 a year," the report states.
In contrast, Armstrong receives a small state pension of $7,836 a year from his five years of service as an investigator for the State Commission of Investigations and the Division of Criminal Justice.
Armstrong also receives a federal pension as a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel. Federal benefits paid to pensioners are not considered public record.
Polhemus turned down a request from the Ocean County League of Women Voters to debate his opponents. He has not returned numerous calls from Berkeley Patch for an election preview interview.
Polhemus and Undersheriff William Sommeling are among 51 county law enforcement officials in New Jersey who still receive salaries while also drawing a pension, according to a report by New Jersey Watchdog.
The investigation found that 17 sheriffs and 34 undersheriffs collectively earn $9.1 million a year "double dipping" — $3.7 million in retirement pay on top of $5.4 million in salaries — while utilizing loopholes under Gov. Chris Christie's pension reforms.
PROPERTY TAX REVOLT !!!......WAKE UP SHEEP !!!!!!!!!!
The law should state that when you take another Gov't job your pension should stop until you no longer have that Job/position and then your pension picks back up. You will then see how fast they don't want the 'other' job! Polhemus should not be allowed to run for another term at the age of 84. I don't care how spry he maybe....He is 84 years old which means he is still driving as well....Thats scary enough, let alone him being a Sheriff carrying a gun.
Quit now and show some honor!!
No where does it say if he runs for Sheriff that he has to disclose his persion amt or his salary. If they are going to continue to pay him why wouldn't he take it? You know damn well if it was offered to you or I, we would take it as well. You are right tho, at 84 how good a job can he be doing? And as far as his car Ins premiums... how do you know they are high? AND if they are... LOL... we are paying him well enought that he can afford them!
He worked many years of nights weekends and holidays in a thankless job with pretty much the scum of the earth. His family never knew if he would be walkong through that door later or if he would be meeting his maker at the hands of some moron. What it seems like to me from some commentsis a lot of green eyed monsters, who woild never have the guts to be a police officer
At 84 he has probably been collecting a pension for 30 years. 30 years x say 43k on average. $1.3 million in retirement income thanks to the taxpayers does he get free healthcare too? nice gig
I AM ... ALL OF YOU THAT VOTE FOR HIM REALLY DESERVE WHAT YOU GET NOTHING .