Disgraced cops want pension money back

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – Two disgraced former Providence police officers are asking the city to return the money they invested in the city pension system, plus interest.

Former patrolmen Marcus Huffman and Robert Hamlin appeared on the docket for Wednesday’s Providence Retirement Board meeting.

Neither man, convicted in separate crimes, had worked long enough to be eligible for a pension so they requested the city cut them a check for the money they had taken out from their pay meant for their retirement.

Board member Raymond Hulll – a Providence police sergeant and state Representative – immediately opposed any transfer of money in the Huffman case.

“I don’t want to see him get any of it and I’m the police representative,” Hull said. “What he did was inexcusable.”

Huffman was convicted of first degree sexual assault in 2010. Investigators say he took a drunken 19 year-old woman to a police substation and raped her. The victim later called police to report the crime. In a bizarre turn of events it was Huffman – who was still on duty – who responded to the call as the lead investigator.

He was sentenced to 60 years at the ACI.

Senior Assistant City Solicitor and attorney for the Retirement Board Kenneth Chiavarini recommended the board return the money Huffman had invested, but not the interest. He pointed out that had Huffman been vested in the system the city would have tried to strip him of his pension benefits under the “dishonorable service” clause, leaving Huffman with only what he put into the plan.

The board decided to hold off on a decision pending the outcome of a civil suit filed by the victim in this case.

Separately, Hamlin pleaded no contest to two counts of conspiracy in a drug investigation that rocked the Providence police department dubbed “Operation Deception.” Investigators say Hamlin helped his younger brother and convicted drug dealer Albert Hamlin in two separate drug deals, one for cocaine and one for marijuana.

He was sentenced to five years in prison. The Department of Corrections said he wrapped up his time on Apr. 14 of this year.

The board voted to allow Hamlin to remove what he had invested but not the interest.

WPRI 12 has requested the total amount the men invested into the pension plan but has not received an answer yet.

Update: The Providence Pension administrator says Huffman is eligible to get a check for $56,234.06 and Hamlin will receive $24,353.35.

Tim White ( twhite@wpri.com ) is the Target 12 investigative reporter for WPRI 12 and Fox Providence. Follow him on Twitter: @white_tim