OMAHA, Neb. --
A city employee said police and fire personnel are "leaving in droves" as they cash in on lucrative pension benefits -- some make more money in retirement than they did while working.
Acting Fire Chief Mike McDonnell said 78 firefighters are retiring in 2007 compared to 21 in 2006 and two in 2005.
"They have served the citizens well, and put their life on the line to help citizens and they deserve this pension," McDonnell said.
By mid-December, 96 police officers had put in for pensions in 2007 compared to 31 granted in 2006 and four in 2005. Sgt. Teresa Negron said that the number of vacancies on the police force will be even higher.
"What I can tell you is, by the end of 2007, we will have 107 vacancies for our sworn personnel on the department," Negron said.
Despite the retirements of so many veteran officers and firefighters, both departments said that public safety will not be compromised.
"I don't want the people of the city of Omaha to think there's not going to be officers who will come to their house. If you need an officer, you call 911, and we will be there," Negron said.
"The level of protection that we have in the city of Omaha is not going to drop at all based on the number of people going through training," McDonnell said.
McDonnell said the fire department will have to compromise in other areas while the department rebuilds, such as public education.
Rebuilding efforts include 35 new police academy graduates that will hit the streets in February. Another 40 police recruits began training this week and another class is planned for the spring.
In the fire department, 34 new recruits will start training after the first of the year and another 14 firefighters will transfer in from other area departments. That won't quite fill the shortage.
"Yes, it's a concern, but it's not anything that we can't manage or that we haven't prepared for, that we can't handle," McDonnell said.
The police and fire unions are now negotiating new contracts with the city. The city said it is committed to bringing pension benefits under control.
Current police and fire contracts are scheduled to expire Dec. 31, but until new agreements are reached, the old contracts will stay in effect.
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