Perkins to decide on retirement from police

Kirsten Searer

Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004 | 9:45 a.m.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said he will decide in the next week or two whether to retire from the Henderson Police Department and avoid controversy over public employees serving in the Legislature.

Perkins is under investigation by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel on a complaint that he violates the federal Hatch Act.

The law prohibits federal employees and some state employees who deal with federal funds from running for office. Perkins said he does not deal with federal money and therefore does not violate the law.

Federal investigators had hoped to wrap up their inquiry by the end of the year, but Perkins said the office recently asked for new material in the discovery process and he doesn't expect the issue to be resolved anytime soon.

Still, he said, he might take an early retirement before the session begins in February.

"Before I actually pull the trigger, I need to sit down with my family again," said Perkins who is married and has five children. "I need to do some soul searching and ask why am I doing it?"

Perkins said he believes he will be cleared of violating the Hatch Act and isn't retiring because of the investigation. Instead, he said he would retire to avoid perception that he should not serve in the Legislature and as a public employee at the same time.

Whether he retires or not, he said he will no longer work for the police during weekends in the legislative session.