NJ WATCHDOG: State 'Repossesses' Disability Pension From Reality TV Repo Cop

It's about time the state pension board did something to stop this kind of abuse, examples such as Derrico's case are far too common and cost tax payers millions of dollars annually - MM

For Immediate Release:


Joe Derrico – the disabled New Jersey cop turned roughhousing repo man on reality TV – took a hard punch from a state pension board.

The board stripped Derrico of his $69,703 a year tax-free disability pension and declared him fit to return to work for the Hamilton Township police. The action was prompted by an investigative report by New Jersey Watchdog and NBC 4 New York two months ago.

Derrico's disability pension was based on his claim he could no longer work as a patrolman because he had twice injured his leg while making arrests.

One year after retiring, Derrico was brawling on television as a cast member of "Bear Swamp Recovery" – a truTV cable network reality show on vehicle repossessions by the "baddest towing team in Jersey."

During the "Monster Truck Showdown" episode, Derrico runs after a truck, pulls a man down from the driver's seat, throws him to the ground and climbs into the cab. In another scene, Derrico is wrestling with opponents.

The full story is now online at New Jersey Watchdog at http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2013/07/15/derrico/