Sheriff DiPaola to Resign Over Pension Flap

DiPaola’s Attempt to Collect Pension, Salary Prompts Resignation

– Allison Goldsberry

Middlesex County Sheriff Jim DiPaola will resign in January despite recently being re-elected to another term, according to The Boston Globe. DiPaola’s announcement follows a conversation with a Globe reporter in which it was revealed that the Sheriff had planned to retire and collect his salary and pension at the same time.

DiPaola’s plan to retire and collect his pension while still earning a salary is legal because of a state law that allows retirees to receive pay for an elective office without losing their pension.

DiPaola told The Globe he had a change of heart after speaking with reporter Sean Murphy.

DiPaola said he did not want his accomplishments as sheriff to be overshadowed by being considered a “double-dipper.”

“I’d always be remembered for this, for double-dipping, that that would be my legacy. From a financial perspective it was great. It was legal. But I tossed and turned all night. I did put myself first this time, and I don’t want it to end that way,” said DiPaola.

DiPaola, a Malden native who spent years as a police officer and state legislator before being elected Sheriff in 1996, was elected to his third six-year term on November 2. He will not be collecting a salary for the remainder of the year and will resign when the new term begins in January. The position will likely be filled with an appointment by the Governor until an election is held.

Governor Patrick told The Globe DiPaola’s attempt to collect his salary and pension simultaneously was “outrageous” and that he would try to prevent him from collecting the money. When the Governor learned about DiPaola’s resignation, he said it was a “wise decision.”

“The sheriff did the right thing. He is a fine man and has done a fine job in office, but this kind of double-dipping is exactly the kind of thing that discredits government,” Govenor Patrick told The Globe.

According to The Globe, the maneuver would have allowed DiPaola to collect a $98,500 annual pension on top of his $123,000 annual salary as Sheriff.

In a letter to Middlesex County residents printed in the paper, DiPaola had this to say about his initial decision to collect both his pension and salary:

“I must admit I had reservations about running for another term. I have been a public servant for 36 years since 1974. As I pondered my decision it was brought to my attention that I would be eligible for retirement and if reelected eligible for the salary of sheriff.

It must be pointed out that if I retired and someone else was the sheriff there would be no cost savings. I made a black and white decision based on finances instead of my moral compass to run for reelection and to apply for retirement,” wrote Sheriff DiPaola.

DiPaola has been recognized by his peers and has won several awards for his department’s initiatives, including the Youth Public Safety Academy, which brings together public safety workers and children.