Commission approves Carlos Samaniego's PSPRS enrollment as police recruit after CORP retirement review

The Public Safety Retirement Commission of the City of Surprise on Oct. 22 approved Carlos Samaniego's membership in the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) as a police recruit after considering his status as a recent retiree under the Correction Officers Retirement Plan (CORP).

Staff told the commission that Samaniego had worked for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office as a detention officer from May 2005 to August 2025, had retired under the Correction Officers Retirement Plan and was hired by the Surprise Police Department as a recruit on Sept. 2, 2025. According to staff, PSPRS/CORP guidance indicated it is a local-board determination whether the employee may participate in PSPRS as a recruit; staff advised the board that, under local practice, contributions begin after the first 90 days and that upon graduation the member would participate in PSPRS and earn service credit under that system.

A board member moved to approve "Carlos Samaniego's membership into PSPRS as a police recruit," stating the board had reviewed the information presented and recommending the finding that Samaniego retired from a different retirement system and that employer contributions shall be made on his behalf and he shall earn service credit under PSPRS. The motion also directed that an employer request for subsidy be submitted to CORP for Mr. Samaniego. A second was recorded and the motion carried on a voice vote.

Why it matters: The decision addresses a return-to-work situation where a member retired under one public safety retirement plan (CORP) and sought reemployment in another covered position and system (PSPRS). The board's determination affects when contributions resume and how service credit is assigned.

The commission added the chair's requested executive session item to the next agenda and adjourned.