Atherton police budget gets boost due to officer disability

Fully 25% of the police department out on full salary disability, causing overtime expenses that the troika of Cary Wiest, Elizabeth Lewis, and Rick Degolia is only too happy to authorize.

This is appalling.

Clearly the troika kept this quiet until after the parcel tax vote and until after they voted these cops a contract making them the highest paid cops in California.

There has been absolutely zero instances of violent police incidents in Atherton over the past year (or, in fact, ever). What is the chance that 25% of the force is out on legitimate disability vs. gaming the system?

And why isn't the town monitoring these excuses to separate legitimate disability claims from hoaxes.

In the not too recent past, an Atherton dispatcher, Anita Blick, committed workers compensation fraud based on similar tactics.

How did the Atherton officers suffer the disability - in the line of duty? Recap those stories for us so we can appropriately support these officers, instead of assuming they are goldbricking. Full disclosure is needed these days to avoid negative assumptions.

I'm sure line of duty. One instance was a police car being rear ended. The question is did it result in an actual disability. I also understand they get to "disability retire" on a tax-free basis by claiming a disability.

Does a normal citizen take a year off with full pay when their car gets rear ended?

Now that the Almanac has moved its offices to Palo Alto, they are missing the view from their old Alameda de las Pulgas office across from the Starbuck's, where four to eight even ten disabled officers can be seen any evening around 4:45 nursing their wounds.

25% of the whole dept seems really high.

"where four to eight even ten disabled officers can be seen any evening around 4:45 nursing their wounds"

Yeah, right. Hyperbolize much? (yes, I stopped in tonight)

So funny how often someone may have a legitimate point or question, and then lose all credibility......

It's Ttrue. No Atherton Officers at Starbucks tonight. They read this blog.

Perfect accusations, have a perfect excuse when they don't prove out.