Original story about body-builder / pension abuser Arroyo

BOSTON (WBZ) ―

Boston's fire commissioner is urging the city's retirement board to deny the disability claim of a firefighter who competed in a bodybuilding contest even though he claims he can't work because of a back injury.

Albert Arroyo, 46, reported that he fell down some stairs in the Jamaica Plain firehouse on March 21 and reinjured an old back problem. According to retirement board documents, no one was there when Arroyo fell. His doctor wrote that Arroyo should be granted an accidental disability retirement because he is "permanently disabled."

Yet on May 3 after collecting his full $68,000 annual salary tax free for six weeks, Arroyo finished eighth in a bodybuilding competition. Video of the competition surfaced and shows the supposedly injured Arroyo flexing his muscles for the judges in a black Speedo. "If you can do that, you can work here," said Boston Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser. "If you look at Mr. Arroyo, he's in better shape than most guys on the Boston Fire Department."

See link for the rest of the story.

Ed Comment: The biggest issue is obviously the conflict between "permanantly disabled" and "bodybuilder". But I'd also like to see some serious scrutiny on "fell down some firehouse steps". Sounds fishy to me. Very fishy.

Pension Abuse folk-hero

The firefighter who was out for disability, but simultaneously competing in body-building competitions might be the all-time hero of pension abuse.

It's good that the brass has (seemingly) been taking action against Arroyo, but I bet the union will wiggle him out of most of the penalties. This guy should fry.


Boston Fire Department again axes bodybuilder’s bid to keep gig


Bodybuilding jake Albert Arroyo will not be reinstated to his $81,000-a-year job as a Boston fire inspector, even though he attempted to declare himself disabled again yesterday.

BFD spokesman Steve MacDonald said the rejection letter was hand-delivered to Arroyo’s residence at about 5 p.m. yesterday.