LAW AND DISORDER: County Sheriff interrupts class
Confrontation erupts between sheriff and professor during class
Dmitry Gurvits
Issue date: 2/18/10 Section: News
Mercer County Sheriff Kevin C. Larkin and what appeared to be a female aide interrupted a State and Local Politics Class (POL 102) held in MS 205, at Mercer's West Windsor Campus on February 1.
Associate Professor Michael Glass was conducting a discussion of what changes students would propose to the state budget to avoid the expected $2 billion shortfall. Some students suggested cutting the salaries of what they felt were overpayed state administrators.
The issue of state employees who "double dip" into state pension plans was raised during the class. Students asked Prof. Glass for a local example. At that point, Prof. Glass provided examples of several law enforcement officers, including Sheriff Larkin, who collects a Police and Fire Retirement System Pension as well as a government salary.
Information about Larkin's pension was widely publicized in the Times of Trenton May 23, 2009 article entitled "Pension eligibility spurs controversy" by Anthony Coleman. The article described how "Larkin was cashing in on a move allowed under the state's pension system: he can legally continue working as sheriff (at a $129,634 annual salary) while collecting a pension based on his 'retirement' from that very job."
As reported by Coleman, Larkin has been collecting an $85,000 annual pension since January 1, 2009 after retiring from the Sheriff's Office at the rank of Chief Sheriff's Officer, while concurrently earning a $129,634 salary as County Sheriff.
When a student commented that they would not know what to do with the roughly $210,000 Sheriff Larkin makes in annual compensation, Glass said, "In the case of the Sheriff, it's not that much. He has [to pay] child support and alimonies."
The comments were made at roughly 7:30PM, when Brooke Seidl, 26, a student and County Clerk, apparently informed Sheriff Larkin of Glass's comments, via text message.
Russell Buckley, 19, who sat near Seidl that night, reports hearing her say she was contacting Larkin "right now," directly after Glass made the comments about Larkin. Buckley also reports hearing Seidl texting on her cell phone.
Associate Professor Michael Glass was conducting a discussion of what changes students would propose to the state budget to avoid the expected $2 billion shortfall. Some students suggested cutting the salaries of what they felt were overpayed state administrators.
The issue of state employees who "double dip" into state pension plans was raised during the class. Students asked Prof. Glass for a local example. At that point, Prof. Glass provided examples of several law enforcement officers, including Sheriff Larkin, who collects a Police and Fire Retirement System Pension as well as a government salary.
Information about Larkin's pension was widely publicized in the Times of Trenton May 23, 2009 article entitled "Pension eligibility spurs controversy" by Anthony Coleman. The article described how "Larkin was cashing in on a move allowed under the state's pension system: he can legally continue working as sheriff (at a $129,634 annual salary) while collecting a pension based on his 'retirement' from that very job."
As reported by Coleman, Larkin has been collecting an $85,000 annual pension since January 1, 2009 after retiring from the Sheriff's Office at the rank of Chief Sheriff's Officer, while concurrently earning a $129,634 salary as County Sheriff.
When a student commented that they would not know what to do with the roughly $210,000 Sheriff Larkin makes in annual compensation, Glass said, "In the case of the Sheriff, it's not that much. He has [to pay] child support and alimonies."
The comments were made at roughly 7:30PM, when Brooke Seidl, 26, a student and County Clerk, apparently informed Sheriff Larkin of Glass's comments, via text message.
Russell Buckley, 19, who sat near Seidl that night, reports hearing her say she was contacting Larkin "right now," directly after Glass made the comments about Larkin. Buckley also reports hearing Seidl texting on her cell phone.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11
Ed Carmien
posted 2/19/10 @ 9:05 AM EST
What excellent reporting! And how puzzling that one of the many double-dippers of the pension system here in NJ (an often and well-publicized matter) would have this reaction to the simple repetition of facts reported in the media. (Continued…)
M. Sullivan
posted 2/19/10 @ 9:26 AM EST
Excellent and engaging story!! Well written and very informative!
Michaelk42
posted 2/20/10 @ 5:54 PM EST
Looks like you guys made The Agitator in the comments, anyway.
http://www.theagitator.com/2010/02/20/saturday-links-19/
Cat Stoker
posted 2/22/10 @ 4:16 PM EST
I second the compliments on the quality of this story. I was reading about the incident on politickernj.com and was so confused by their narrative that I had no idea what exactly had happened. (Continued…)
Tim Polgardi
posted 2/22/10 @ 9:14 PM EST
So, is Brooke Seidl in trouble too?
I mean, she can't be punished for being a stool pigeon, but she did disrupt class.
Did she break any rules at the school regarding misuse of communication devices?
She's a textbook example of why students should be prohibited from using electronic devices during class time. (Continued…)
Tom
posted 2/22/10 @ 10:44 PM EST
Feel free to call him or send him a letter to speak your mind
Sheriff
Kevin C Larkin
175 S Broad St
Trenton, New Jersey 08650
(609)989-6111
mzjenna609
posted 2/24/10 @ 8:46 PM EST
That sheriff should be made an example of infront of the state. His aide and also the student who text messaged him from the classroom as well. Nosy ass-kissin' clerks do anything in order to be on the good side. (Continued…)
Tom
posted 2/28/10 @ 11:20 AM EST
He earned his retirement. I don't see the problem with that. The problem is the sheriff abusing his position. He failed to provide a good example to the little stool pigeon, and presents the impression that if you are a public employee and do not like someone opinion you can just intimidate then. (Continued…)
bl4444
posted 3/01/10 @ 12:58 PM EST
What a jack-booted cry-baby that sheriff is. What's the matter, Kev? Are your panties too tight?
He should be thrown out of office for his abuse of authority and horrific lack of judgment, and at a school no less. (Continued…)
matt
posted 3/02/10 @ 12:39 PM EST
Guess larkin is just a scumbag who tries to initimidate others out of their 1st amendment rights...I notice he doesn't deny being a double dipping sack of puss!
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