Trotta Pushes Back Retirement to Collect $7,000 In Vacation

One of the newest Suffolk legislator-elect will hold off on retiring from his job with the police department until hours before taking the oath of office in order to collect $7,000 in vacation time from the county. 

Fort Salonga resident Rob Trotta, elected as a Republican to represent Suffolk's 13th legislative district starting Jan. 1, has changed his retirement date from Dec. 28 to Jan. 2, 2014 under the police department to collect on 15 days vacation pay - a move approved by the county board of ethics, Newsday reports. 

Under county code, a legislator's 2-year term "shall begin on the first day of January following the general election." However, the county board of ethics ruled that Trotta can retire from his job as a police detective on Jan. 2 without violating county laws that ban elected officials from double dipping. 

As of Jan. 1, 2014, Trotta will accrue 15 days paid vacation under the police department for 2014. These vacation days can be cashed out when a police officer retires, according to Trotta, and officers frequently retire Jan. 2. 

In more than 25 years with the police department, Trotta said he has worked more than 100 days for which he did not get paid for and has brought in millions in revenue for the county by recovering non-payment of cigarette taxes and drug deals. 

Read more on Newsday [subscription required] on Trotta's retirement from Suffolk County police department.