NY fireman steals $86k per year taxfree disability pension while competing in marathons

At the risk of being too fair to the guy. . . could it be possible his asthma medications artificially aid his running performance? Who knows, maybe he'd be a 2:40 marathoner if he didn't have asthma, and he's hacking and wheezing his way to his performances.

This came up decades ago after Gary Muhrke won the first NYC Marathon while collecting a disability pension as a NYC fireman because of a back problem as I recall. It was reviewed scrupulously and the ruling was that he was indeed unable to perform as a fireman even though he was able to run.

I have to call bullshit either on your recollection or the "review." There are 100s, if not 1000s, of jobs in the FDNY that don't require any special physical attributes. Do you mean to tell me that he couldn't drive the truck, sit at the firehouse and manning the phone when everyone else was out at a fire, or taught at the Fire Academy? Good for the NY Post for calling this guy out. I'm sick of paying taxes that are used to pay for many illegitimate permanent vacations.

Christie wrote: Do you mean to tell me that he couldn't drive the truck, sit at the firehouse and manning the phone when everyone else was out at a fire, or taught at the Fire Academy? .

There probably are many positions where you would think he'd avoid it. But i imagine in any position there could come a time where they say, we need an extra guy, and he's there.

Kind of similar to the army, you have non combat positions, but everyone must be deemed ready and fit at all times regardless of whether the position in theory requires the ability to fight. If something bad happens, you can't go...oh...i'm in a non combat position, sorry, find someone else.

Landlord charges $1500 a month for a studio in manhattan even though he has been charged with numerous fines and has not paid a single dime that he owes to the city.

concentrate on real crimes d=bag.

Hayduke wrote:

Landlord charges $1500 a month for a studio in manhattan even though he has been charged with numerous fines and has not paid a single dime that he owes to the city.

concentrate on real crimes d=bag.

Which landlord?

Then hire civilians for wimp jobs and pay 10%. make the fire retards and police fools work the fires and do patrol. you can get MBAs and Walmart managers to run the police station and fire house.

One word: unions.

Do the millions spent on welfare for completely able bodied workers bother you at all, or are you just picky?

Show some respect. NYPD are heroes of 9-11 and are beyond criticism.

Mrr82 wrote:

Christie wrote: Do you mean to tell me that he couldn't drive the truck, sit at the firehouse and manning the phone when everyone else was out at a fire, or taught at the Fire Academy? .

There probably are many positions where you would think he'd avoid it. But i imagine in any position there could come a time where they say, we need an extra guy, and he's there.

Kind of similar to the army, you have non combat positions, but everyone must be deemed ready and fit at all times regardless of whether the position in theory requires the ability to fight. If something bad happens, you can't go...oh...i'm in a non combat position, sorry, find someone else.

My thoughts exactly. The fire department, I would imagine, has some pretty strict physical standards that must be met to be a fireman. I'm sure there are various physical ailments, disabilities or conditions that would prevent you from being a fireman but not from running marathons.

I know a guy that was discharged from the military due to sleep apnea. That's right, sleep apnea. I do believe he is getting disability also, though only a small percentage of his pay.

As much as I try to be a centrist moderate, this sort of thing has the potential to turn me into a single-issue voter. It makes me beyond furious that government workers do this.

If someone stood up and said he or she would stop this and fight to the political death to do so, I would vote for that guy even if I disagreed on other things.

NYC has this protected government worker class. Something like 99% of LIE workers retire disabled, police park wherever they want with those stupid placards, teachers can't be fired. Infuriating.

That's bullshit too. There are plenty of military vets who have lost limbs in combat who still are in the military, albeit not in combat positions. There are hundreds of thousands of military positions in the US that never get anywhere battlefields. Someone has to do the recruiting and training.

HRE wrote:

This came up decades ago after Gary Muhrke won the first NYC Marathon while collecting a disability pension as a NYC fireman because of a back problem as I recall. It was reviewed scrupulously and the ruling was that he was indeed unable to perform as a fireman even though he was able to run.

Muhrcke's case was reviewed in a widely publicized situation after Muhrcke won the first Empire State Building Run Up in 1978. As stated, his disability to perform his duties as a fireman was confirmed.

Can we now officially end the "all firemen are heroes" crap that started w/ 9/11?

Surely someone else is completely not bothered by this besides just me.

Don't call me Shirley and, no, you are in the minority.

yepper wrote:

As much as I try to be a centrist moderate, this sort of thing has the potential to turn me into a single-issue voter. It makes me beyond furious that government workers do this.

If someone stood up and said he or she would stop this and fight to the political death to do so, I would vote for that guy even if I disagreed on other things.

NYC has this protected government worker class. Something like 99% of LIE workers retire disabled, police park wherever they want with those stupid placards, teachers can't be fired. Infuriating.

Greece has made headlines about their outlays to govt employees. Retiring early, govt employees getting 14 monthly paychecks per year, 6 weeks vacation to start...

Don't see how this case is significantly different.

Yeah I don't really care about this. I do find it funny that you want to lock the guy up, which will cost at least 35k a year (probably more) + the cost of prosecuting him.

I am surprised that his pension's 86,000, though. That seems very high.