Retirement ... A New Beginning - Tennessee Department of Treasury

Retirement Benefits for Law Enforcement Officers
Group I state police officers, wildlife officers and commissioned members of the Alcoholic
Beverage Commission who are engaged in law enforcement activities on a day-to-day basis and
certain other employees of the Department of Safety, TWRA, TBI and Alcoholic Beverage
Commission are subject to mandatory retirement on the first day of the month following the
month in which the member attains age 60.
Any Group I law enforcement officer who retires at or after age 55 in accordance with this
mandatory retirement requirement is eligible for a supplemental bridge benefit in addition to the
regular service retirement benefit. For members retiring on a regular service retirement allowance,
the supplemental benefit is equal to .75 percent of the member's average final compensation,
multiplied by the member's years of creditable service established while the member was in a
Group I position covered by the mandatory retirement provisions. For members retiring on an
early service retirement allowance, the supplemental benefit is equal to the supplemental benefit
paid to members retiring on a regular retirement allowance, but reduced by .4 percent for each
month by which the member's date of early service retirement precedes the member's service
retirement date. The initial supplemental benefit may not exceed 22.5 percent of the member’s
AFC. The supplemental benefit will begin the later of the date of retirement or the first day of the
month after the member attains age 55. Supplemental bridge benefits are eligible for cost of living
adjustments; however, all supplemental benefits shall cease upon the earlier of the member’s
death or eligibility for early Social Security benefits (currently age 62).
Effective July 1, 2007, Group I members that served in state public safety officer positions covered
by the mandatory retirement provisions are eligible to retire on service retirement benefits upon
attainment of age 55 with 25 years of creditable service. The unreduced benefits (service
retirement) are based on the years of creditable service rendered and the average final
compensation received while the Group I member served in a Group I position covered by the
mandatory retirement provisions. All other service is calculated under the reduced (early)
retirement provisions.
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