by James Coulter
Lake Wales police officers who remain employed after becoming eligible for retirement can now defer pension payments for up to eight years, now that the City has increased the maximum participation period.
At their regular meeting on Tues., Oct. 21, 2025, Lake Wales city commissioners unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance that extends the maximum participation period in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) for police officers.
DROP allows active police officers to remain employed while delaying receipt of their pension payments.
“Upon separation from employment, the member receives the accumulated DROP benefits and begins to receive the previously determined normal retirement benefit amount,” wrote Sandra D. Davis, Human Resources Director.
Previously, the maximum participation period for DROP was five years. Now, that period has been extended to eight years. Similar extensions had been approved by the Florida Legislature and several other municipalities.
