Arcadia’s top 2 cops gone

Arcadia is suddenly and unexpectedly without its two top police officials, Chief Robert Sanderson and Captain Gene Gioia.

Poliice Chief Robert Sanderson

Both had decided some time ago to retire but stay on part-time for a few months to help with the transition to a new chief. But that all changed with little notice last Friday when they became aware they were jeopardizing their retirement pensions due to arcane California retirement (PERS) rules, according to City Manager Don Penman. Both had started with the police decades ago as cadets before they became sworn police officers, and thus were working under multiple retirement formulas during their careers.

Suddenly, Friday became their final day of work. Captain Bob Guthrie was immediately thrust into the role of interim Police Chief while the City recruits as new chief. “We are disappointed that they had to leave so abruptly due to PERS rules,” Penman said. “I am confident that Interim Chief Guthrie and the entire management team in the Police Department will do an outstanding job during this transition.” Ironically, Chief Sanderson, along with other City employees, including Library Director Carolyn Garner-Reagan, made their decisions to retire this year, perhaps several years earlier than expected, when they all were shocked to learn last year following the death of an Arcadia police officer of another little-known PERS rule. That rule provides full benefits to the spouse in the event of the death of the employee only if the employee is retired when they die.

Otherwise, the spouse receives only 50% of the benefits, which has the effect of creating an incentive for government employees to retire at the earliest possible date allowed.

— By Scott Hettrick