Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-01-31
Arlington Police
.AndFirePension
Bill Completed
Measure Provides
Retirement Board
Of Five Members

A bill providing pension and
retirement system for Arlington
County police and paid firemen was
on its way today to the Virginia
General Assembly, where immediate
action will be sought by the county's
representatives
The measure, revised three times
after conferences with county board
members, has the support of Leo C.
Lloyd, chairman of the Boards Pen
sion Committee, who said he will
recommend its adoption by the
county governing body following
passage by the State Legislature.
The bill provides for creation of a
Pension and Retirement Board, con-
sisting of five members. The county
treasurer, by virtue of his Office, will
be a member of the group and will
act as its treasurer. s.
The other members, to hold mem
bership for four-year terms, are to
be selected as follows:
On elected by majority vote of
police department members, one
similarly elected by county firemen,
and two elected by majority vote of
the county board.
$4,000 Insurance.
Death and retirement benefits
provided in the bill include a $4,000
payment to the beneficiary of any
police or fireman who dies as a re-
suit of injuries or disease incurred
in the discharge of his official duties.
The board Is given the right to
carry insurance covering this Ii
ability.
Minimum retirement incomes set
forth in the proposed legislation
start at $50 per month at the end
OF 20 years service, increasing 81
per month for each year thereafter
up to Is years, when the monthly
rate would be $50. :
Minimum retirement eligibility
qualifications require that any po-
lice or fireman shall have COM
pleted Is years of service and be SIS
years of age, or have a service rec
ord of 20 years and be go years of
age. The bill was made retroactive
to include. the time of continuous
service of any police or fireman or
deputy sheriff.
In addition, any police or fireman
who resigned to enter military or
naval service during World War II
and returned to his duties within
six months after his discharge will
receive credit for the time spent in
the armed forces.
How Pension Is Computed.
The determination of pensions to
be paid, above the minimum, is set
forth as follows:
The average annual salary for the
1ve-year period during which any
police or fireman received his high
est pay is to be divided by 100 and
the result multiplied by the number
of years he has served prior to the
effective date of the act. The said
salary then will be divided by SO
and the result multiplied by the
number of years served after the
effective date of the act.
These two amounts will be added
and the total is the annual pension,
to be paid in monthly installments.
At any time during the first five
years of service, disabilities not orig
mating from official duties will be
compensated by 10 per cent of the
members salary. For each addi-
tional year over five, 2 per cent
will be added to the original pay
ment. At no time, however, is the
amount to exceed one-half of the
members salary.
Those disabled permanently in
line of duty will receive a pension
until eligible for retirement, amount
ing to two-thirds of the members
salary. $685..
Boards Powers Listed.
Five general powers for the Pen
sion and Retirement Board are in
Guided in the bill, as follows:
To adopt bylaws, rules and reg
ulations which it may deem neces-
sary for the proper conduct of its
affairs, including the fixing of physi-
cal requirements and standards for
police and firemen.
To conduct hearings, make in
vestigations and determine the
amount of awards, pensions or re-
tirement benefits to be paid.
To provide for such clerical
medical and other services as it
may deem necessary and provide
for the payment of such services
Necessary legal advice or aid is to
be provided by the county COM
monwealth's attorney.
To provide for and require deduc-
tions from police and firemen's sal
aries, to be paid into its treasury
To draw warrants signed in its
name and countersigned by its pres
ident or vice president and secre-
tary for the payment pensions, re-
tirement and benefits and admin
istration costs.
Any appeal of right from board
action on any matter in which 1t is
given discretionary power may be