New Jersey comptroller Matthew Boxer is supposed to be the Garden State government’s watchdog, but that apparently doesn’t cover preventing double-dipping from the public till via the state’s public employees pension program by members of his own staff, according to New Jersey Watchdog.org (NJW).
“Investigator Rick Nuel receives $175,254 a year from the state — a $92,000 paycheck plus an $83,254 pension. In June 2011, Nuel retired at age 46 as a State Police captain,” NJW said today. The NJW is affiliated with the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.
“One week later, Boxer hired Nuel as a special investigator for a unit “charged with detecting and uncovering fraud, abuse, waste and misconduct involving the management of public funds and the performance of government officers, employees and programs,” NJW said.
Another former investigator in the comptroller’s office following his retirement last year as a lieutenant in the New Jersey State Police. David Stebbins “received two state checks totaling $175,083 a year — $92,000 in salary plus an $83,083 pension. In January 2011, Boxer hired Stebbins 17 days after he retired” from the police force, NJW reported.
A spokesman for the comptroller said Boxer hired the most qualified available candidates, as is required by state law.
For more on the case from NJW, go here.
