Last ride for Seattle police motorcycle team's drill master
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SEATTLE - The Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team roared through West Seattle for the Seafair Parade on Saturday morning, displaying their usual precision and showmanship.
But this time the performance was capped with a few tears - in an emotional last ride for a Seattle motorcycle officer.
The next time the team rides, it will be without their longtime drill master John Bernasconi.
"Thirty-seven seasons, 37 years - at least 20 a year," says Bernasconi. "It's a thrill for them, and it's a thrill for us - especially the little kids, they just have a blast."
Now Bernasconi is retiring, after more than 40 years on the police force - hanging up his helmet after a nearly flawless run as a lawman and showman.
"We practice on our own time, and it's great. These are a great bunch of guys," he says.
His wife Cindy and daughter Alexandra have been to almost all his performances.
"A lot of hard work. A lot of dedication," says Cindy Bernasconi.
Adds Alexandra Bernasconi, "It's just a huge milestone. I mean, 43 years is a long time to do anything."
Unlike all those other parades, the one on Saturday stopped so the guys he's mentored and the colleagues he's worked with could say thanks, and goodbye.
"After he starts hugging everybody it's cheerful - and it's very sad - but we're very happy," says his wife.
John Bernasconi says he will miss his team.
"But I'm ready. I'm ready to let it go," he adds.
And ride off to his next passion.
His wife doesn't expect him to slow down - she says she fully expects him to spend a lot of time playing golf.
But this time the performance was capped with a few tears - in an emotional last ride for a Seattle motorcycle officer.
The next time the team rides, it will be without their longtime drill master John Bernasconi.
"Thirty-seven seasons, 37 years - at least 20 a year," says Bernasconi. "It's a thrill for them, and it's a thrill for us - especially the little kids, they just have a blast."
Now Bernasconi is retiring, after more than 40 years on the police force - hanging up his helmet after a nearly flawless run as a lawman and showman.
"We practice on our own time, and it's great. These are a great bunch of guys," he says.
His wife Cindy and daughter Alexandra have been to almost all his performances.
"A lot of hard work. A lot of dedication," says Cindy Bernasconi.
Adds Alexandra Bernasconi, "It's just a huge milestone. I mean, 43 years is a long time to do anything."
Unlike all those other parades, the one on Saturday stopped so the guys he's mentored and the colleagues he's worked with could say thanks, and goodbye.
"After he starts hugging everybody it's cheerful - and it's very sad - but we're very happy," says his wife.
John Bernasconi says he will miss his team.
"But I'm ready. I'm ready to let it go," he adds.
And ride off to his next passion.
His wife doesn't expect him to slow down - she says she fully expects him to spend a lot of time playing golf.
what a fantastic guy - he deserves credit for leading a team of volunteers who could be making a lot more $$ by not using their spare time & off time practicing their skills and doing drills all over the city and region. the whole team should feel proud of how they represent the city of seattle and the police department and we should thank them for giving of themselves without asking for credit most would demand.  we will miss this foxy charmer and his sweet wife - so long bones!Â
Thank you for your service!!
Perhaps John used up some of the sick days when he was shot in the line of duty early in his career. Cops earn every dime they are paid, including a generous pension. My grandfather, father and brother all retired from the SPD. None of them got rich off their pensions.
 @Olde Salte I don't know why you'd bring pensions into the conversation but thought since you did, I'd point out how that pension works.
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Given he's been in the job for 43 years, he'll be on the old LEOFF I retirement system. He'll get 2% of his average final pay for each year of service meaning he'll get 86% of his final pay each month. He'll also get free medical for his wife and himself for the rest of their lives.
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Not saying he didn't earn it or doesn't deserve it but in all honesty, I don't know of any other pension system that provides free medical for life and 86% of your final pay. That's a pretty sweet deal. So sweet in fact that the state stopped enrollment in the LEOFF I system back in 1977. LEOFF I is the causing massive budget headaches for the state as the members get to retire in their 50's and there are so many retirees in that system.
@Middle Ground @Olde Salte Do your research!  His wife does Not get medical! And In spite of the GREAT benifits the few remaining LEOFF 1 officers get, I have the utmost respect for ANY LEOFF 1 officer that did not cash in on the LEOFF 1 benifits, and remained on the job for more than 35 years. Especially, I know. I am one of the first LEOFF II Officers who worked for UWPD (under PERS 1), and being young foolish turned down offers that would have put me on LEOFF 1. If only I had a "crystal ball"!  I know Many LEOFF 1 officers who abused the system and there is NO doubt in my mind they screwed it for us LEOFF II people but please show some respect for those LEOFF 1 officers that did NOT screw the system and put in more than HALF their life doing a job that most people would want nothing to do with. I am reading between the lines and I might be wrong, but I am guessing you might be a LEOFF II officer. If I am right, be safe my friend, and remember, working longer does not make your retirement longer.
 @rcheath  @Middle  @Olde Thanks for your service!
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And that PERS1 ain't so bad either.
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 Signed Sid, PERS2 Participant
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 @Middle Ground You are mistaken.  There is no provision for medical or dental for any officer's spouses or other members of their families.  They are allowed by law to request the state take out the monthly payment to a medical provider for them, is all.
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LEOFF 1 is one of only a few pensions in this State of Washington that is fully funded and actually has more than projected needs of its survivors. Â In fact other pensions and Democrat legislatures have been leading the charge to steal some of those monies for their own projects.
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LEOFF 1 began in 1970 and ended in September 1977. Â It was indeed a very good pension and purposely so because no one wanted to be a police officer in 1970. Â It was Vietnam time and people spit on police.
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Again, as for families getting medical benefits - not true.  And this pension is fully funded by its members.  Too bad all state pensions were not that way.  The Democrats who have controlled money for all these years refused to fully fund every pension so they could spend, spend, spend.  LEOFF I funding was required by LAW and its members contributed on every dime they made including over-time.
Great officer. Thank you for your years of service. I hope the ones you mentored follow in your footsteps. I wish you would of waited one more week so we could give the proper send off at SeaFair! Best Wishes.
This guy is a living legend. Good work.
Thanks for your service John. If he saved up his 12 sick days he gets to each year and cashed in at retirement he could get over $750,000. We need some serious police/firemen benefits and compensation reform since he will probably cost us over $200K in retirement.
@norwester
 @norwester Where do you get those figures? Looking at the state retirement systems website I found that for just King County total benefits paid for seven different systems totaled just under $51million monthly. For a total of 27,435 retirees or beneficiaries that came to an average of $1,858 per person per month.Â
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Now obviously when you lump it all together, school custodians and lunchroom matrons with judges, teachers, law enforcement, firefighters and all other state workers there will be anomalies from the arithmetic mean but I don't see how you can make a statement that this officer could get over $750k or that he will cost us over $200k in retirement.
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I'll admit that I am much more informed about the City of Seattle retirement system than I am with LEOFF so this is an honest question.
 @Furd Well FURD, I'd think that since you're LEOFF you might know a little more about how government pensions work in this state.
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The $51m you quote is what the county pays for current enrollees and retired LEOFF I members. PERS members (the vast majority) don't cost the county anything once they retire.
 @Middle Ground What makes you think I am covered under LEOFF? I have NEVER been a police officer and the pension I receive is from a private company.
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Further, the $51million figure is STATE PAID benefits, not county, for certain retired persons living in King County. They include Judicial (courts, but not judges), LEOFF (Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters), PSERS (Public Safety personnel that are not commissioned officers), WSP, Teachers and Judges.
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I DO know a little about SCERS (Seattle City Employees Retirement System) because I was a city employee for 6-1/2 years. Seattle employees contribute a healthy chunk of their salaries to the retirement system. I don't know about any other government employee systems.
Thank you for your years of service, and for helping to protect the citizens of Seattle. Good luck to you!