Crime & Safety
Stamford Public Safety Director's Six-figure Salary Creating a Stir
According to a report in the New York Daily News, Jankowski, who retired from the FDNY in 2009 with a $138,622 tax-free disability pension, is now making $135,239 a year as Stamford's new emergency services director.
's move to hire former FDNY Deputy Chief Ted Jankowski to serve as the City’s new public safety director at a six-figure salary is apparently creating some controversy.
According to a New York Daily News report, Jankowski, who retired from the FDNY in 2009 with a $138,622 tax-free disability pension, is now making $135,239 a year as Stamford’s new director of public safety, health and welfare, a position previously held by Mets manager and longtime Stamford resident Bobby Valentine.
The salary figure has reportedly raised some eyebrows because, according to the Daily News report, Valentine was paid a mere $10,000 a year for the position — which he donated to charity. When asked by the Daily News to justify the six-figure salary for Jankowski, who started in January, Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia reportedly said: “His qualifications speak for themselves… Certainly, Stamford is fortunate to have someone with his experience, knowledge and training.”
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Details of Jankowski’s disability pension — including what his disabilities are — “remain a closely-kept FDNY secret,” according to the report.
In his new position, Jankowski oversees all of Stamford’s emergency services, including a total of 650 firefighters, cops, EMTs and health department employees.
Find out what's happening in Stamfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
He’s also entitled to a Stamford 401(k) pension if he opts into the plan, according to the Daily News report.
Meanwhile Stamford recently completed its first Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program, which, under the guidelines of FEMA and the State of Connecticut, educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact the area. The program includes training in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
“Here in the City of Stamford, we learned first-hand by our experience with Hurricane Irene and the Nor’easter how important it is to have trained volunteers to assist," Mayor Pavia said in a release. "They are an invaluable resource for our city.”
“When a disaster strikes, it is very important to have volunteers trained in basic response skills,” Jankowski added.
The Stamford CERT members went through a 20 hour basic training program, according to the release.
