Houston police ticket rigging scheme has been uncovered.

[dixiegrrrrl]

I gotta think that if ONE police force is doing this, others are.

Here's how it works:
Cop pulls you over, gives you a ticket, writes on the ticket that another cop is present as a witness, but.....
"cops listed on tickets were not actually present at the time of the offense, but were cashing in on overtime when they appeared in court later."

The scheme was discovered when an off duty police officer was given a ticket and read it, seeing the name of another cop as a witness, who was not at the stop.

News team investigated and found ..." the alleged ticket-rigging scheme took place mostly on highways
In one case in May, Officer Manzalnaes put Officer Farias down as a witness at 11:24 p.m. at I-10 and Westcott Street.

But at the same exact time, records show Farias was writing a ticket nine miles away at I-10 and Wilcrest."

Farias, who was also being investigated, committed suicide earlier this week in a police parking garage.

http://www.khou.com/story/news/crime/2014/08/21/motorist-caught-in-alleged-hpd-ticket-rigging-scheme/14375177/

[JJChambers]

1. How bad is the police pay there that they need to come up with such a scheme for a few hours of OT??

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. It's very bad... the pay, that is.

Most Houston police officers moonlight as security for banks, food trucks, bars, etc.

[Mosby]

6. They start at $35,164 per year plus a $5,000 first year bonus

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Council-OKs-incentive-pay-for-police-cadets-5352682.php

That's good compensation IMO considering you only need a high school diploma.

[JJChambers]

8. That's atrocious.

No wonder it is so hard to hire competent officers. Why would a capable, intelligent person sign on for such little compensation?

We need to make law enforcement require a minimum of a bachelor's degree, raise the other minimum standards, and raise the minimum base pay to be living wage x2, with excellent benefits, vacation and healthcare -- we want the job done right so we need to be willing to pay to employ the right people.

[4b5f940728b232b034e4]

10. Really?

What other job can a person with only a high school diploma get around there making that much? Keep in mind that the cost of living there is not much. A friend just bought a 4 bedroom, 1,800 sq ft house there for $58k near Almeda Mall. My friend has a masters in EE and makes only about 50% more than that.

And why the claim they don't have good benefits? They do. Backup your claim.

[Logical]

12. Officer, police have some of the best pay and pension of ANY public employees......

at some point you need to admit you are a cop because it would expose why you defend them all the time.

[Logical]

11. Fucking pure bullshit.......

Some of the best pay and pensions of ANY public employees.

[ga_girl]

3. Could be pension padding

Get lots of overtime in the couple of years before retirement, and that extra income can be included in the pension payout process.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nypd-top-overtime-earners-pension-padding-article-1.1598690

Over half of the top 20 NYPD overtime earners in 2013 were at retirement age, suggesting that many may have been engaging in so-called pension padding, according to records released Friday.

The 20 princes of the punch-clock, who received a total of $1.1 million in overtime, include 13 who have been on the force for more than 20 years. Cops with at least 20 years of service who retire this year will receive a pension that amounts to half of their final year’s salary.

The practice is not illegal but is criticized as one of the factors that has led to skyrocketing pension costs.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. aha,...clever.

Godo find!

The Houston cop who killed himself during the investigation was 55.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. 51

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. ohhh...did I mis-read?

Thanks...

[Downwinder]

7. Police Officer (after first year) $44,007 – $66,098