NYPD Pension Program Faces Disability Fraud Concerns

A recent city review has raised alarms about the NYPD’s pension program, particularly its vulnerability to potential disability fraud. This includes cases involving high-profile incidents, like an NYPD officer known for jet-skiing while on disability leave, with annual payments soaring to as much as $350,000.

The investigation conducted by the Department of Investigation (DOI) highlighted that the requirements for receiving a health-related city parking permit are, surprisingly, more stringent than those for obtaining disability pensions from the NYPD.

The report scrutinized the awarding of three-quarter disability pensions within the police force, which offer benefits greater than the typical 50% of the final average salary received by non-disabled retirees.

The DOI received allegations in 2025 suggesting that various NYPD officers were collecting accident disability benefits even while actively engaging in activities that contradict their claims of disability. Notably, some senior officials under former Mayor Eric Adams reportedly enjoyed substantial disability pensions despite their administrative positions.

Among those flagged was former Chief of Department John Chell, awarded a $295,000 yearly disability pension after supposedly injuring his foot in a police operation in 2024 involving migrants.

“The current method of administering accident disability pension benefits poses risks for unintended payments,” remarked DOI Commissioner Nadia Shihata. She emphasized that most New Yorkers support rightful benefits for officers injured on duty. However, she expressed concerns about the existing standards for administering these benefits, which differ from those used in similar law enforcement pension schemes, like that of the state police.

Over the years, there have been several controversies surrounding police and firefighter disability pensions. One notable case involved retired NYPD Officer Glenn Lieberman, who, while receiving disability payments, was caught on social media riding a jet ski and showing off with a middle finger. He ultimately pleaded guilty to grand larceny.

The reported figures for the Police Pension Fund (PPF) are staggering. In the fiscal year 2025, it disbursed approximately $3.59 billion to over 50,000 retired officers, with about $935 million allocated to those on accident disability retirement — a category designated for officers who are disabled due to on-duty injuries.

Interestingly, over $100 million was given to officers on disability pensions who didn’t meet the minimum retirement age for standard pensions. The average pension for newly retired officers has now surpassed $100,000, according to the Empire Center for Public Policy.

The DOI pointed out that the medical board responsible for assessing disability claims is rather lenient and doesn’t consider the actual duties performed by the officers. In fact, the evaluations are standardized across all officers, even those in desk roles for extended periods. This contrasts with the more tailored assessments done for state police officers, who are evaluated based on their specific job duties.

Moreover, the DOI report noted that the pension board seldom re-examines disability retirees to confirm their ongoing eligibility for benefits.

There’s also a prevailing sentiment that senior-ranking officers can more easily secure disability pensions compared to their lower-ranking counterparts. The report mentions significant cases like that of John Chell and former Deputy Commissioner Mark Stewart, pointing out their largely managerial roles which diverged significantly from frontline police work.

Another prominent figure, former NYPD Chief of Training Juanita Holmes, received a $350,000 annual disability pension after serving nearly four decades in the force, but the DOI raised questions about the justification for her pension.

In response to these findings, the DOI recommended several reforms: the PPF should evaluate disability pension applications with regard to an officer’s real job responsibilities, establish clear processes for medical re-examinations, and encourage public input regarding potential disability fraud. They also suggested reviewing the disability status of four officers highlighted in the report.

The PPF agreed to the last two recommendations but rejected the first three. As for the NYPD and the Mayor’s office, both directed inquiries to the PPF, which did not provide any further comments.

The Police Benevolent Association, which represents some of the interests of the officers, also chose not to comment on the matter.