Eatonville officer with PTSD to receive pension

An Eatonville police officer who says he's losing his job because he has post traumatic stress disorder will get full pension benefits, according to town officials. 

Cpl. Omar Delgado says he suffers from PTSD after responding to the Pulse nightclub attack. He says he's served nine and half years with the department. 

“Why are they letting me go six months before I can receive my pension,” said Delgado during an interview on Good Day Orlando Thursday. 

Thursday afternoon, Eatonville town leaders called a press conference. 

“Cpl. Delgado will receive his full pension benefits regardless of his less than 10 years of employment,” said Mayor Eddie Cole. 

Local leaders say with a disability pension, he can get 42 percent of his salary right away. 

The announcement comes after Delgado’s story has gotten national attention. But Eatonville officials say they’re not changing their tune, just clearing things up. 

“The clarification is really, the challenge is to show our commitment to our staff, first responders and the staff of the town of Eatonville, we felt this was the best way to communicate that,” said Eatonville Attorney Jacinta Mathis. 

A statement from Delgado’s attorney Paolo Longo said, “If the Town of Eatonville is serious in their statements about allowing Corporal Delgado to retire with his full pension then I applaud the Town of Eatonville for allowing Corporal Delgado to retire with the respect and dignity in which he served his community.” 

Delgado says he was shocked by the announcement and still has reservations. He says a disability pension needs to be approved by a pension board, and that can take months.