In 2018, Officer Paul Hardy abruptly retired after making inappropriate sexual comments about coworkers. Records indicate that the former sheriff allowed him to use sick days and personal days to extend his time on the job, enabling him to reach the 20-year retirement mark. This action allowed Hardy to collect his pension immediately, whereas otherwise, he would have had to wait seven years to collect the pension at a lower rate. The case was highlighted in a report revealing that healthy employees were permitted to abuse sick time for years, costing taxpayers over a million dollars. The Inspector General’s office confirmed these findings, stating that the sheriff violated state rules, union contracts, and department policies.
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