Officer's death sparks pension debate

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A retired City of Mobile Firefighter has asked city leaders to re-examine the city’s current pension plan for police and firefighters.

Mobile has no line of duty death benefit, for police officers or firefighters who are killed while on the job. All of this came to light, after the murder of Mobile Police Officer Steven Green.

Officer Green was stabbed to death while taking a suspect to Mobile County’s Metro jail on Friday, February 3.

James Lilley, Chairman of the Mobile Police and Fireman’s Pension Fund, wants city leaders to add a “line of duty death benefit.” Click here to read his letter on the issue.

FOX10 News has learned Mobile’s pension fund has a $100 million deficit.

To change the current plan, city leaders say an actuary report establishing the cost for the change will be presented to the Police and Fire Pension Board later this month. 

“At this point a bill will be drafted, published for four weeks and introduced into the legislature with everyone being in agreement, but this legislation will be done through the Pension Fund Board,” said city spokeperson, Barbara Drummond.

The Police and Fire Pension Board will take action and forward to Mobile Mayor Sam Jones and the City Council for approval.