He got hurt chasing a perp — and now he runs marathons on the taxpayers’ dime.
A retired NYPD cop awarded a disability pension after tearing up his knee in a foot pursuit works as a sheriff’s deputy near Miami and runs races — and it’s all legal.
The unabashed abuse of taxpayer dollars is laid bare on the Facebook page of the cop, Christopher DePaolis, where he lamented America’s descent into a handout culture — and shared his decision to screw the state for all it’s worth.
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“Now I’ll take whatever I can get for this state and not feel one bit bad. If everyone else is going to get free s–t and not have to work. . . . I plan to do the same now. They made it clear to me so now am joining them,” he wrote on Facebook Nov. 7, 2012, the day after President Obama was reelected.
On Aug. 30, 2013, DePaolis was approved for his NYPD disability pension, which provides him with $6,839 per month — or $82,069 annually, according to the New York City Police Pension Fund. The pension is tax-free, and also provides health benefits for life.
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The Broward County Sheriff’s Department hired DePaolis in June. He earns $52,156. A spokeswoman for the sheriff’s department said DePaolis had not disclosed he receives an NYPD disability pension.
“What’s it to you?” DePaolis said in a brief phone conversation with the Daily News before hanging up. “I have no comment.”
Astonishingly, the arrangement isn’t prohibited by the terms of the pension.
“There is nothing legally impermissible about that fact pattern,” said Nicole Giambarrese, lawyer for the pension fund.
Tim Hoefer, executive director of the Albany-based Empire Center, said DePaolis’ pension bonanza is a prime example of why the system needs reform.
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“It’s infuriating on moral grounds. The system allows it. That’s why it’s so outrageous. They’re not going to take that (pension) away from him,” Hoefer said.
Under New York City administrative code, an officer who has more than 20 years from their date of appointment can work for any law enforcement agency outside New York State.
On Dec. 31, 2013, DePaolis looked back on his year in a Facebook post.
“I was injured in a foot pursuit at work and messed up my knee really bad and my shoulder. I spent a lot of time in surgeries and sitting home. But by May things got a little better, I sold my house then in June was approved for 3/4s (pension) and then moved to fl (Florida) in July,” he wrote, referring to the disability pension that provides three-quarters of a disabled NYPD cop’s highest salary following 20 years of service.
But DePaolis, now 43, doesn’t appear incapacitated at all.
On a Father’s Day 5K run in 2014 he finished eighth in his age group.
He shared a photo of himself holding a medal from the Miami Beach Halloween half-marathon in 2014 on Facebook.
He ran a 5K race and scavenger hunt at Disney World this past May with his wife, according to information online.
Photos provided to The News by a tipster also show DePaolis snapping selfies in his Broward County sheriff’s uniform.
“It’s a slap in the face to all law enforcement that wore the uniform … claiming you had injuries that prevent you from doing law enforcement work. And then you go to another state, join law enforcement and run marathons!” the tipster told The News.
“All while the New York citizens are paying your pension!”
The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association did not respond to an inquiry.
Hoefer’s Empire Center has pursued litigation for more than six years seeking to make the city and state’s pension funds more transparent.
“If it exists in a way so people can look at it, people can see what’s happening with their tax dollars,” said Hoefer, who added he is awaiting a judge’s ruling on granting the public more access to information on the NYPD pension.
“Without that information you can’t root out cases … like this.”
