Gov. David Paterson’s newly appointed superintendent of the State Police sought permission to keep receiving his $84,000 state pension even while being paid $136,000 by taxpayers in his new job, but then changed his mind and won’t seek the extra money, aides said Thursday.

A Paterson aide had asked the state Civil Service Commission to grant a waiver to allow Harry Corbitt, 60, to keep getting his pension even while collecting a state salary.

State law normally prohibits any retiree under 65 from earning more than $30,000 a year without losing some pension benefits.

Corbitt became a state trooper in 1978 and retired in 2004 as deputy superintendent in charge of the Internal Affairs Bureau. He was director of school safety for the Albany City School District before rejoining the State Police last month.

The waiver was being sought “because he may be entitled to pension benefits,” said State Police spokesman Lt. Glen Miner, who added the final decision is up to the Civil Service Commission.

The section of law under which Corbitt is seeking permission to keep receiving his pension mandates he has to be uniquely qualified for the job and nobody who is not retired could be found to fill it.

Source: Poughkeepsie Journal