Baltimore County has approved restarting a program to incentivize police, firefighters and paramedics to delay future retirements and extend their careers.
The benefits incentive, known as a Deferred Retirement Option Program, won’t have an immediate effect in curbing departures from public safety agencies, as the change applies to hires made after July of 2007, who aren’t eligible for retirement until 25 or 30 years of service. Still, the renewed version of the program is being praised as a recruitment and retention tool, as well as a way to keep more experienced public safety professionals on the job.
“We are grateful every day for our brave and selfless first responders, and this new benefit demonstrates our commitment to making sure we continue to honor them even after they retire,” County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said in a Tuesday news release.