SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) – Convicted of extortion and illegal gambling, Savannah’s former police chief will continue to collect a pension worth nearly $130,000 a year while he serves 7 ½ years in federal prison.
That comes to more than $970,000 before taxes.
Some City Council members have called for revoking or slashing the retirement benefits of former Savannah-Chatham County Police Chief Willie Lovett, who was sentenced by a U.S. District Court judge earlier this month. But City Attorney Brooks Stillwell told council members Thursday a state law that forces convicted public employees to surrender a chunk of their pensions can’t be applied to the ex-chief.
City officials may ask Georgia’s attorney general for a second opinion.
“We all agree, as does the community, that this is a miscarriage of justice,” said City Council member Mary Ellen Sprague. “For him to get such a huge pension is just incredibly troubling.”