PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- City police officers approved significant retirement reductions Thursday, including a 10-year suspension of the cost-of-living increases to their pensions.
Police union president Taft Manzotti said 89 percent of the about 428 officers voted for the changes. The officers, he said, most struggled with having faith that the city "would keep its word this time."
Providence firefighters approved the changes in November. Retired police officers and firefighters agreed to the same reductions in late June.
Besides the 10-year suspension, the agreement eliminates the 5- and 6-percent compounding cost-of-living raises that some retirees have received; caps those adjustments at 3 percent compounded after the suspension ends; and requires officers to enroll in Medicare when they become eligible.
This post was initially published at 5:34 p.m.