St. Paul's longest-serving police officer must retire at 65, bu...

With 42 years on the job, John Morrow is St. Paul's longest-serving police officer, but the department tells him that will change June 24.

[MaybeHeShouldRun]

Maybe he should run for Sheriff against Fletcher

[Workaday Oakdale Brother]

Perhaps he will be able to find a civilian position with a neighboring PD.

[How weird is that]

Here we someone that enforces the law and has to retire at 65 and the legislators that
make the laws can go to 105. I think 65 should be the limit for any government
employee either elected or not that is receiving their salary from any government
source be it federal, state or local, we can not afford to leave legislators go for
ever, at some point I think their brain starts to deteriorate or it could be the reason
they got into politics in the first place, because they all seem to be a little nuts.

[Fed up with bailing out]

How weird is that wrote:

Here we someone that enforces the law and has to retire at 65 and the legislators that
make the laws can go to 105. I think 65 should be the limit for any government
employee either elected or not that is receiving their salary from any government
source be it federal, state or local, we can not afford to leave legislators go for
ever, at some point I think their brain starts to deteriorate or it could be the reason
they got into politics in the first place, because they all seem to be a little nuts.

Oh boy, did you hit the nail right on the head when it comes to letting legislators being allowed to serve until 105. As far as the senate goes, there is good reason to have term limits. When it comes to federal judges, the same thing. There are some serving in office that are beyond old.

As far as this police officer, 65 years old in my eyes is still young. Too many men want to continue working - my husband being one of them. I think part of them wanting to continue working is the fact that they're afraid of being inactive. What they need to do is think of being active in another way. They've worked their entire lives and deserve to retire. If they had other interests besides work, it would be better for them all the way around.

With the advent of possibly having national health care being put in place, I have to say - it's quite possible that our health care is going to go way down in quality in which case 65 and even younger in age might be considered old again. I don't have a lot of faith in us still having quality health care if the government gets involved in the way they want. I think they need another place to take money from for other things. It's what they've done to almost destroy social security.

[Mr Secant]

"It really isn't fair to the officer," he said. "If he was employed in any of the bordering cities to St. Paul or in Ramsey County, it wouldn't be applicable."

It's not fair setting speed traps at the bottom of a hill either, but I'm forced to live with that too.

[Susan]

Tell him he can stay as a part time city employee. Then cut his wages to part time, get ride of his benefits,and hospitalization. Case closed.

[Betty]

Move over and let some young cop come in.

[I Need Gov Assistance]

I don't know about everyone else, but if I could retire right now with full pension, etc., I'd be down in Florida in the retirement resorts. Forget working for SPPD, forget working PERIOD.

[thanks]

I am sorry he is not ready to retire, but when one door closes another door opens, maybe life will even get better. In any case...thank you for all your years of service.

[Duh]

As a citizen of St. Paul I think it is ridiculous that we as taxpayers are paying this 65 year old man over 70 thousand dollars a year to answer a phone and man a window so he can pad his retirement. Retire and let someone that can perform the duties of a police officer get hired which is why the law is on the books in the first place.

[slylab]

If he is clear minded and able to perform is duties behind his DESK he should be able to keep his job. It's not like running down crack dealers is part of his job description anymore. I'm not one for lawsuits, but in this case he should sue the state for age descrimination and I hope he wins. For once, let common sense win.

[detective jane]

Come on over to the sheriff's office and work with Fletch and Ohara. He's 70 plus yrs old. Great innovative ideals coming from him. $90.000 a yr, plus FBI pension. Get the hook-up buddie.

[No spin zone]

slylab wrote:

If he is clear minded and able to perform is duties behind his DESK he should be able to keep his job. It's not like running down crack dealers is part of his job description anymore. I'm not one for lawsuits, but in this case he should sue the state for age descrimination and I hope he wins. For once, let common sense win.

It's the Law!!! They are NOT above it as much as they feel they are.

[TtB]

I've met 55 year olds that I would think are 75 and 75 year olds that I would think are 55.

[slylab]

No spin zone wrote:

<quoted text>It's the Law!!! They are NOT above it as much as they feel they are.

Believe it or not, over the history of this country, laws that don't make sense have been amended or abolished by lawsuits. Interesting concept huh?

[Grandmaster G]

In 1940 when the law was passed many 65 year olds were ready to be put out to pasture. Now we have people working into their 80's. This is a BS law and it should and can be changed. This guy is a desk cop and seems like a darn good one. It is not like he is on SWAT. We need to start crediting people for longevity in the work place. It is a diminishing occurrence.
Thanks for your 42 years of dedication. I am impressed!

[RCS Deputy]

John,
It has been great to work with you. The first time I met you, you were transporting inmates from the old annex to the ADC in the wagon. You were always professional then as you are today! If retirement is what is in the cards, I hope the best for you!

[Duh]

Once again nanny staters want the government run like a day care. Because he is 65 we are supposed to continue to pay him a high amount of salary to do a job that can be done for much less. The officer is likely maxed out on salary and has stated he is only padding his pension. Meanwhile there is some other candidates who can do more for the city of St. Paul perform more duties and all of this while getting paid less. A St. Paul police officer is not hired to work a desk or a window, that is rotating duty to give officers a break from the streets not a place to put someone incapable of performing their duties at the expense of taxpayers. If you cannot work the streets then you should not be wearing the uniform but hey he is 65 and that is discrimination. No its called not being able to perform the duties for which they were hired.

[TAC]

Age shouldn't be the deciding factor. Back in 1940 the average live span was probably in the mid 60's so 65 was old. Now, many people are still very vibrant and active at 65. Federal retirement age is moving to 67 and then to 70 by the time I retire.

I think another poster is correct, in that when one opportunity closes, another will open, but that is sometimes hard to imagine when you only know how to do one thing. My father has been busier as a retired person then when he worked; the difference is that now he's doing the things he wants to do!

[gsd fan]

Duh,

It's called using seniority to bid what assignment you want to work.