BUFFALO, N.Y. – Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia announced his support today for reforms to the New York State and Local Retirement System’s Tier 6.
Compared to workers in previous tiers, Tier 6 employees are required to contribute larger portions of their earnings into the pension system for the duration of their careers, and those employees not enrolled in specialized plans must work longer to receive full benefits.
“Recruiting and retaining good sworn and civilian employees has become one of the biggest issues facing law enforcement agencies across the state,” said Sheriff Garcia. “Years ago, thousands of people would have lined up in any given year to take a civil service exam to join the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. Those days are long gone. The last time an exam was offered to become a deputy sheriff in our Police Services Division, just 494 people took it. We had only 272 candidates take the most recent Training and Experience exam to become a jail deputy or correction officer. The same challenges exist in recruiting civilian employees. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office must battle with the private sector to hire qualified nurses, clerks, kitchen staff and more.
“With the state budget due in just weeks, I’m calling on our state leaders to take a hard look at what can be done to reform Tier 6 while being fiscally responsible for taxpayers.”
In 2023, Sheriff Garcia worked with union leadership and county administration officials to make jail deputies and correction officers eligible for enrollment in an 89-p/603(l) plan. This allows them to retire after 25 years of service, regardless of age. Prior to this enrollment, the jail deputies and correction officers were required to work 30 years and be at least 63 years of age to retire with full benefits.