OMAHA, Neb. — The Omaha City Council approved Mayor Jean Stothert’s proposal to extend a pension program, allowing Police Chief Todd Schmaderer and Fire Chief Kathy Bossman, as well as future police and fire chiefs, to remain in their positions for additional years beyond retirement, the Omaha World-Herald reported.
The ordinance, passed in a 4-3 vote on Feb. 4, applies to the city’s police and fire chiefs, enabling them to extend their participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) by an additional three to five years with mayoral approval, according to the report.
Stothert proposed the change primarily to retain Schmaderer, who was previously required to retire in March 2026 under the existing DROP rules. Schmaderer, chief since 2012, is already enrolled in DROP, while Bossman, who became fire chief in 2023, has not yet entered the program, according to the report.
DROP allows eligible police and fire employees to continue working while their pension benefits accumulate in a lump sum. The program is designed to keep experienced personnel on staff while giving employees a financial incentive upon retirement, according to the report. Chief of Staff Thomas Warren stated that an actuarial analysis determined that extending the DROP period for chiefs would have no negative impact on the city’s pension fund.
“It is a unique situation where he (Schmaderer) is interested, willing and able to continue his employment,” Warren said. “Our willingness to extend his DROP demonstrates the confidence that Mayor Stothert has in his ability to manage the department, and we feel that his job performance speaks for itself.”
The decision drew criticism from the Omaha Professional Firefighters Union, which argued that the benefit should be extended to all police and fire personnel. Union President Trevor Towey called the measure unfair, pointing out that only two members out of roughly 1,500 in the pension system would benefit.
