Special message for our law enforcement personnel

 

The Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System is the most well-funded large plan in the state of Oklahoma, with a funded status of 98.2% as of January 1, 2015. The law enforcement personnel of this state, through their representatives on Oklahoma Police Board of Trustees, made the prudent decision to sacrifice other benefits to obtain this level of financial solvency. In times like these, when the state faces a budget shortfall because many of those who make decisions concerning our state budget have not acted as prudently as the Oklahoma Police Board of Trustees, some may advocate “borrowing against” our law enforcement personnel’s pensions. As a brother of a retired Tulsa police officer, I understand that the brave men and women of our police forces put their lives on the line every time they go on shift. In addition, the physical and emotional strain that they endure over their careers is rarely appreciated by those unconnected to the profession. Thus, I find it unconscionable to betray those who have risked and sacrificed so much for our security by using the funds from their pension program for anything other than their intended purpose. Even if those who wish to transfer funds from this pension program promise to restore these monies at a later date, I will still consistently and aggressively oppose any attempt to transfer funds from the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System for any reason other than their intended purpose.