May 28, 2008 2:55PM 

# Government Pensions 

By [Tim Lynch](https://www.cato.org/people/tim-lynch) 

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The *Washington Post* reports that a local police officer has been convicted of shooting and [killing an unarmed furniture deliveryman](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/27/AR2008052701362.html?sid=ST2008052702002). The judge handed down a sentence of 45 years imprisonment. But get this:

> *His disability benefits and police pension are not affected by his convictions, county spokesman* [*John Erzen*](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/John+Erzen?tid=informline) *said.*

So taxpayers must keep paying this guy’s pension? Good grief. Are there *any circumstances* in which a government employee’s pension can be canceled?

##### Related Tags 

[Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy), [Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies](https://www.cato.org/robert-levy-center-constitutional-studies) 

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