Turns out former Sacramento Police Chief Albert Nájera doesn't trust CalPERS' experts after all.
You might remember that Nájera got two big pay raises in 2007, and then announced he'd be retiring Jan. 1.
Taxpayer groups questioned whether it was a case of pension spiking.
Nájera, who defended the pay boosts, said he would leave it to the experts – the California Public Employees' Retirement System – to decide whether the 19.8 percent bump could be calculated to determine his pension.
Since then, CalPERS rejected using the second raise, and Nájera had a change of heart. He appealed the decision, which set his annual retirement pay at $157,856.
"CalPERS sent me a document indicating this is what they came up with," Nájera said earlier this year. "It said you could have the board reconsider it, so that's what I'm doing."
Nájera's second raise would add about $5,000 each year to his pension draw, according to Bee calculations.
Ed Fong, a pension fund spokesman, said Wednesday that CalPERS is working to set a hearing in the next couple of months.
– Terri Hardy. Send tips to moneytrail@sacbee.com
THE CRIME LINE
Sacramento violence down in July from a year ago
Violent crime dropped across Sacramento during July compared to the same month last year, according to a Bee analysis of police data.
North Sacramento had the most instances of violent crime in July. Police District 2, which covers the area, saw 57 robberies, murders and assaults with a deadly weapon. That figure is down from 67 cases in July 2007.
Oak Park crime continued to drop. Police District 6, which covers Oak Park, Tahoe Park and Fruitridge Manor, saw violent crimes decline from 42 during July 2007 to 35 during July 2008.
Natomas, stung by a much-publicized robbery spree in June, bucked the overall trend. Robberies dropped off slightly in July, but violent crime in the neighborhood remained well above July 2007 levels.
Police focused resources in Natomas last month, and home invasion robberies dropped sharply. The decline was offset somewhat by a slight rise in other types of robberies.
– Phillip Reese. For a view of crime in your area, see sacbee.com/crimemapper
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Helping others is lifelong lesson for Gold River kids
Katie Williams, 19, was a fifth-grader at Gold River Discovery Center in 1999 when her school made its first trip to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.
Since then, kids from upscale Gold River have contributed an estimated 5,000 hours to the food bank. They bagged and handed out groceries, sorted canned goods, and bundled baby diapers.
Williams, a UC Irvine student, volunteered again this summer. "I had the opportunity to go back, and I remembered the experience in elementary school," said Williams. "I enjoyed helping people and knowing that was making a difference."
– Bill Lindelof. Send tips to fixthis@sacbee.com
