Payment to police chief is approved

Mathis Winkler

Thursday, Oct. 18, 2001 | 8:54 a.m.

North Las Vegas City Council members on Wednesday unanimously approved a $66,000 payment to increase retirement benefits for outgoing Police Chief Joey Tillmon.

The payment was part of an arrangement between city officials and Tillmon, who will retire Oct. 31.

City Manager Kurt Fritsch said a nationwide search will be conducted to find a replacement for Tillmon. An acting chief was to be appointed today or Monday to serve until the position is filled permanently, Fritsch said.

To compensate Tillmon, city officials will forward a check to the Nevada Public Employees' Retirement System, where the $66,000 will be counted as two extra years of service in relation to Tillmon's pension benefits.

"By buying him two years, we're giving him 23 years of service," said Brenda Johnson, the city's spokeswoman.

She added that this should increase Tillmon's pension by about 5 percent. Tillmon makes about $109,000. Tillmon, in his retirement letter, requested the buyout, Johnson said.

Tillmon, 48, began working for the police department in February 1980. Still, he will fall short, by about 15 months, of the 25 years of service required for full pension benefits.

Pastor S.S. Rogers, a local activist, said Tillmon was pressured to leave and called that action unjust.

"I know (Tillmon's) not happy with the situation," Rogers said, adding that he served as a police chaplain and had talked with Tillmon about his pending retirement. "He's not retiring, he's being fired. That's the bottom line."

City officials and Tillmon remain tight-lipped regarding the reasons behind Tillmon's retirement, which he announced Oct. 1.

Earlier this month Mayor Michael Montandon said the separation was a mutual decision.

Both Tillmon and the city needed a change, Montandon said, adding that the chief's retirement came after discussions over several weeks.

Montandon said buying out Tillmon was the right thing to do.

"Early retirement is a tool we use a lot, especially in upper management," Montandon said.

Councilwoman Shari Buck added that she thought the buyout was "fair."