Crime & Safety

Fullerton Officer Charged in Beating Death Collects Big Pension

Jay Cicinelli, who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and the use of excessive force in the death of Kelly Thomas, receives nearly $40,00 from the LAPD.

One of the two Fullerton police officers charged in the July 5 beating death of a schizophrenic homeless man receives a bigger-than-normal pension from the city of Los Angeles, it was reported today.

Before joining the Fullerton Police Department, Jay Cicinelli was an officer with the LAPD. He lost an eye in a 1996 shooting and gets about 70 percent of his final LAPD salary in a disability pension—$39,625 per year, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Cicinelli's annual salary in Fullerton was $88,544.

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The Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions Department undertook a review of Cicinelli's pension award when his name surfaced in the investigation of the death of Kelly Thomas, a homeless man with who died after a struggle with six Fullerton officers. The pension board could decide to reduce Cicinelli's pension to about 30 percent of his final LAPD salary, the newspaper reported.

The pension board has reduced benefits only 14 times since 1985, The Times reported. In an Oct. 11 email, a Los Angeles police pension department employee wrote that "we might get some unwanted attention if anybody notices that he will still be getting paid 70 percent of a P-II salary (tax-free) from LAFPP until we're allowed to get the Board to address it?"

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Cicinelli's attorney could not be reached for comment by The Times.

While on patrol in the LAPD's 77th Street area on Dec. 14, 1996, Cicinelli was shot during a traffic stop. He fought to return to patrol duty despite his injuries, but in the end was awarded a lifetime disability pension of 70 percent of his salary.

He had 12 years with the Fullerton Police Department, where he was corporal, before being placed on leave in connection with the beating death. Cicinelli is charged with involuntary manslaughter and using excessive use.

Another Fullerton officer, Manuel Ramos, was charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the death. Four other officers involved were not charged.

Cicinelli and Ramos have been on unpaid leave since last month. The uncharged officers remain on paid leave.

The LAPD pension board awarded Cicinelli 70 percent of his salary in part because it was unclear if he could ever return to a job in law enforcement. Bernard Parks, then the police chief, argued in favor of the pension, saying he opposed Cincinelli returning to active duty with the LAPD, The Times reported.

Pension board staffers recommended a 40 percent pension, but the board voted to give him 70 percent.

Pat McKinley, the former Fullerton police chief who now sits on the City Council, told The Times that he hired Cicinelli on the recommendation of LAPD Deputy Chief Michael Hillman, and that Cicinelli had undergone psychological testing before being hired.


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