Throw out ‘30 years and out'

STEVE PENN

The time has come to handcuff the outdated 30-years-and-you're-out policy practiced by the Kansas City Police Department.

It isn't fair, is handled capriciously and is simply a form of experience discrimination. I want people to understand the silliness of Deputy Chief Vincent Ortega's employment status. Ortega was one of the two deputy chiefs to be beaten out recently by Jim Corwin for the new police chief position. Ortega fared well during the process. He's the highest-ranking Hispanic in the department and the first to reach the rank of deputy chief. Now consider the insanity of the fact that in September 2006, Ortega won't be allowed to continue his career. The Board of Police Commissioners has a policy that mandates retirement after 30 years of employment. Ortega started Sept. 7, 1976. He turned 21 a week before he entered the academy.

The policy is designed to keep new blood circulating. At times, those underneath the top ranks become discouraged when they see stagnation. Please. Ortega struggles to understand the policy. He's heard the pros and cons.

“It's a young person's job,” Ortega said of police work. “But at the same time you are losing a lot of your experience when you do that. On the other hand, when I was a young officer, I couldn't wait for the older guys to retire so I'd have a chance for promotion.”

I can understand an age limit on the police force. But Ortega just turned 49.

How would you like it if somebody booted you off a job that you were good at simply because you had been there 30 years? An effort to extend the retirement to 35 years went down in flames this year, leaving Ortega disappointed.

After all, he's in good shape and he's confident he can still perform his job efficiently.

“I'm still very capable not only mentally, but physically, to handle the job,” Ortega said. “I still have something to offer the department.”

Karl Zobrist, president of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, admitted the policy isn't perfect.

“There are downsides and upsides to this,” Zobrist said. “The downside is that you lose good people. The good side is it promotes internal mobility. Some people would stay on for 40 to 45 years.”

There also are cost considerations, Zobrist said. Experienced officers earn more than younger officers, and the department's budget is already squeezed tight.

On the flip side, the public understands what they're getting with experienced officers. Statistics show that the officers with the most complaints are the officers with the least experience.

The 30-year retirement policy is outdated. Things are different than they were back in 1956 when the police board established it.

Now here's the thing. The police board can revisit the policy. It also can decide to extend Ortega's or anyone's retirement in the interest of the department, and Ortega is trying to improve minority recruitment.

The board allowed former chiefs Rick Easley and Floyd Bartch to work past their 30-year mandatory retirement dates, so there is precedent. I say lock the policy up and throw away the key.

Of course, the public needs to weigh in.

Wise police commanders are hard to find, and losing them to an unfair and outdated policy just isn't the kind of internal mobility the Police Department needs any more.

To reach Steve Penn, call (816) 234-4417 or send e-mail to spenn@kcstar.com.