Law enforcers help push retirement bill through

It might be true that a room full of uniformed officers is intimidating — it worked for Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan. His bill that would amend certain retirement benefits for public safety employees passed unanimously out of the Senate Retirement and Independent Entities Committee Wednesday.

Nearly 50 officers came, some from Logan and others locally, to hear the bill and offer support of the legislation.

"To begin with, we don't pay these guys any money," Buttars said. "It's embarrassing enough, especially for people who put their life on the line for us. And their retirement stinks also."

SB154 would increase the cost of living allowance for men and women who have served the public as law enforcement officers and highway patrol officers from the current amount of 2.5 percent to 4 percent. Their allowance would then match the cost of living allowance offered to all other state employees at the time of retirement.

Rep. Bud Bowman, R-Cedar City, stepped up to the mike and declared a conflict of interest because of his 30 years of service as a Utah Highway Patrolman.

"Support this bill," he said. "It is much needed and they've been passed over too much before."

Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Salt Lake, said the proposal is long overdue.

"I love these guys, they're my heroes . . . what better way to thank them than to compensate them for their work well done," Walker said.

The League of Cities and Towns is against the bill because of the fiscal responsibility of cities and counties to compensate their own officers. The fiscal note attached to the bill would only cover the costs for state-employed officers.