A legislative town hall in Coeur d’Alene descended into chaos when Teresa Borrenpohl found herself dragged across the floor by plainclothes security after shouting about a legislator’s use of public lands. The incident, which left her with a misdemeanor battery citation, began when Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris - dressed in jeans and a baseball cap - approached her in the darkened auditorium.

… The security firm LEAR Asset Management, licensed as a private patrol operator in California but whose plainclothes presence violated Coeur d’Alene city code requiring clearly marked uniforms, has declined to comment. While Norris claims no knowledge of security arrangements, KCRCC chair Brent Regan stated, “Nothing was done without him being aware.”

Before becoming sheriff, Norris served as a Lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, where he led counter-terrorism efforts at the Joint Regional Intelligence Center after 9/11. Working under then-Sheriff Lee Baca, he held top security clearance while managing personnel from the FBI and CIA.

Now, records from Transparent California reveal Norris collects $186,675 annually from the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association - including $150,282 in disability payments and $36,393 in benefits. While claiming in 2020 he received only pension payments, he recently disclosed having partial disability ratings - 12% for his right shoulder and 13% for his left. However, after video surfaced of Norris physically grabbing and attempting to remove Borrenpohl from the town hall, users online have begun questioning whether he should still be receiving disability payments based on alleged physical impairments.

[Italics in original]

Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20250226123917/https://lamag.com/news/educator-dragged-from-idaho-town-hall-on-orders-of-ex-la-sheriffs-deputy-collecting-150k-in-disability

  • yunxiaoli@sh.itjust.works
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    15 hours ago

    Yes, yes they do.

    SSDI in the US has strict income limits below the amount you receive in SSDI payments. If you cross that limit, which you will do if you work full time in any legally paid position or part time in any competently paid position, you no longer qualify and have to reapply from the beginning.

    SSI is similar, except you also cannot have any assets or investments.

    The US has the worst disability programs in the developed world, and one of the worst among countries that have similar programs.

    On top of this both SSI and SSDI payments are taxed, despite being funded by the person’s own taxes, meaning the amount you get is even further reduced.

    On top of this it is possible to qualify for SSDI but not Medicare or Medicaid, meaning of the meager payments most of that money has to go towards medical care instead of living.

    This piece of trash with his supplemental insurance bypassed that and is working when most would be too scared of losing their limited fixed income. And he’s working to oppress others.

    No one deserves to be disabled, but this person deserves far worse.

    • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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      15 hours ago

      Social Security disability insurance doesn’t have a limit on unearned income, but there is a limit on how much you can make from working.

      So… Yeah - as I said - you can receive benefits while working.

      • yunxiaoli@sh.itjust.works
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        14 hours ago

        Reread that, or go down a paragraph.

        SSDI cannot make over 1,500$ a month from working or earned income. They can have assets and investments though. SSI has a lower income limit and cannot have assets or investments.

        The income limit for SSDI is lower than the normal SSDI payment, and lower than most states (by population) full time minimum wage.

        • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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          14 hours ago

          I didn’t say anything about limits. I only said that he can work while receiving benefits. Which you’ve provided evidence for.

          • yunxiaoli@sh.itjust.works
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            14 hours ago

            If he’s taking less than minimum wage or is volunteering, or he’s working part time at minimum wage, sure. For California he has to be working less than 101hours a month at minimum wage. Which realistically an ex cop used to a six figure salary isn’t doing.

            • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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              14 hours ago

              Yeah - I don’t know if he’s receiving pay or working more than allowed - the article seems more focused on “he’s receiving disability but he’s able to move!”.

              People seem to think that disability is only for people who would be completely unable to move for some reason. I hate to see people turn on this since it can be difficult enough to get disability benefits.