Police Officer Convicted Of Rape Gets Second Chance At Disability Pay

A fired Spokane police officer convicted of second-degree rape is getting a second chance to prove he deserves a disability retirement.

The Police Pension Board on Monday unanimously voted to send former Sgt. William Gentry for a psychiatric evaluation.

That decision throws aside the board’s earlier move to deny Gentry his disability pension, which would save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Gentry, 49, was sentenced last October to four years in prison for second-degree rape after he admitted having a sexual relationship with a retarded, deaf woman he met on the job. He is free pending appeal.

Two weeks ago, the board voted 3-2 to deny Gentry his request for a disability retirement. Board actions require four votes, so the full sevenmember board had to reconsider the issue.

Gentry is asking for a disability retirement, which would cost taxpayers about $11,500 more a year than a regular retirement.

If Gentry lives to age 75 and remains on disability, he would get about $310,000 more with the disability pension, not counting cost of living adjustments.

A year ago, the board voted against Gentry’s request to be granted a permanent disability retirement. He appealed the decision to the state Department of Retirement Systems, which sent it back to the board for further consideration.

Attempts to reach Gentry through his attorney were unsuccessful.