FROM: Christina Cintron, Chief of Member Services
SUBJECT: Returning Retiree Certification: Michael Siedle
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Approve the request to extend the employment of Michael Siedle from June 13, 2026, through June 13, 2027, in accordance with SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032, Retirees Returning to Work.
body
BACKGROUND:
The California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) establishes limitations for retirees returning to work in the same retirement system from which they receive a pension. Under SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032, extensions beyond 18 consecutive months of re-employment must be approved by the Board of Retirement and are permitted only under conditions of Extreme Necessity and for a Limited Duration.
Michael Siedle retired from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department on September 10, 2022, after more than 20 years of service. At the time of retirement, he held the position of Deputy Sheriff.
Mr. Siedle was subsequently re-employed under an initial Returning Retiree Certification from November 30, 2024, through May 2, 2026, in a Safety Extra Help classification performing duties as a Sheriff’s Service Specialist. San Bernardino County Human Resources confirmed that Mr. Siedle stopped working on May 2, 2026, in accordance with his initial certification.
The present request represents the first extension beyond the initial 18-month certification period.
CURRENT REQUEST:
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department requests an extension of Mr. Siedle’s Returning Retiree employment from June 13, 2026, through June 13, 2027, continuing in a Safety Extra Help classification performing duties as a Sheriff’s Service Specialist.
The retiree will continue supporting firearms review, processing, and disposition within the Scientific Investigations Division (SID) Property Unit. This includes verifying firearm identifiers, confirming legal eligibility for destruction, maintaining chain of custody, documenting destruction activities, and managing related logs, teletypes, and tracking systems (Exhibit B, p. 2)
EXTREME NECESSITY:
The employer has demonstrated that Mr. Siedle’s continued re-employment is necessary to maintain effective operations in a specialized firearm disposition function due to the sustained backlog of firearms requiring review and disposition, related storage limitations, and the lack of other personnel currently fully trained to perform the work independently (Exhibit B, pp. 3 - 4).
Mr. Siedle possesses extensive experience in firearm identification, documentation, legal eligibility review, and firearm disposition requirements. The Sheriff’s Department has explained that he is familiar with the Scientific Investigations Division (SID) Property Unit’s processes and can continue performing the work without additional training, which supports continuity in a specialized operational function (Exhibit B, p. 3).
The Department states that the need for continued re-employment is driven by the sustained volume of firearms requiring review and disposition, combined with vacancies and competing operational demands within the Property Unit. Mr. Siedle has assisted with the disposition of hundreds of firearms, which has helped reduce storage issues and support backlog reduction efforts. Without his continued assistance, the Department states that firearm disposition processes would slow significantly, backlog reduction efforts could stall or reverse, and storage limitations within the Property Unit would continue to be impacted (Exhibit B, pp. 3 - 4, 9).
The Department has also indicated that existing Property Unit personnel have competing responsibilities, including evidence management, audits, and training responsibilities for Sheriff’s stations, which limits their ability to focus on firearms processing. While some team members have limited or partial familiarity with the work, the Department states that no other personnel are currently fully trained to perform these functions independently without significant training and oversight. These circumstances support the employer’s position that the need for continued re-employment is unavoidable in the near term and necessary to prevent disruption to this specialized operational function (Exhibit B, pp. 3 - 4).
For these reasons, the request satisfies the Extreme Necessity requirement under Policy No. 032.
Limited Duration / Completion of Work:
The requested extension is for one year, from June 13, 2026, through June 13, 2027. During this period, Mr. Siedle will provide temporary operational support while the Sheriff’s Department continues work to reduce the firearms and evidence disposition backlog and establish longer-term staffing coverage (Exhibit B, pp. 3 - 4).
The Department has indicated that the extension is intended as a short-term solution while it pursues the creation of an additional Sheriff’s Services Specialist position assigned to Property. If approved, the Department anticipates that the process to establish and fill the position may take up to one year. Maintaining Mr. Siedle in this role during that period will allow the Department to continue making progress on firearm disposition while preventing regression in backlog reduction efforts (Exhibit B, pp. 3 - 4, 9).
The requested extension is not presented as indefinite stopgap coverage or functional part-time employment. Rather, the employer has identified a temporary need tied to backlog reduction, transition planning, recruitment, training, and the anticipated establishment and filling of an additional position. These facts support a finding that the request is limited in duration and tied to a foreseeable staffing and operational transition period (Exhibit B, pp. 3 - 4, 9).
For these reasons, the request satisfies the Limited Duration / Completion of Work requirement under Policy No. 032.
RECRUITMENT EFFORTS:
The Sheriff’s Department reports that it is actively recruiting for the Sheriff’s Service Specialist classification, with recruitment opportunities occurring approximately every six months. The Department also intends to pursue the creation of an additional Sheriff’s Services Specialist position assigned to Property. During the extension period, the Department will continue recruitment, selection, training, process documentation, and limited cross-training efforts to build internal capacity and reduce reliance on returning retiree support (Exhibit B, pp. 2, 9).
LEGAL AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS:
Pursuant to SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032 and applicable PEPRA provisions, Board approval for re-employment beyond 18 consecutive months requires that the request satisfy both of the following conditions:
1. Extreme Necessity: The employer must demonstrate that the re-employment is essential to maintain effective operations due to genuinely unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances; and
2. Limited Duration / Completion of Work: The re-employment must relate to the completion of a specific, time-bound task or project, or meet one of the limited-duration conditions defined in Policy No. 032.
• Hard-to-Recruit Positions: Temporary placement in a classification requiring specialized skills, certifications, or qualifications that are difficult to recruit for in the labor market, supported by documented and ongoing recruitment efforts; or
• Stoppage of Public Business: Re-employment necessary to prevent interruption of essential government functions where such interruption would directly compromise public safety, security, welfare, or the effective administration of justice.
Based on the employer’s statements and the supporting documentation submitted, staff finds that the request satisfies the Extreme Necessity and Limited Duration requirements set forth in SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032.
CONCLUSION:
Based on the justification provided and the supporting documentation submitted, staff recommends that the Board approve the Returning Retiree extension request for Michael Siedle in accordance with SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032 and applicable PEPRA provisions.
BUDGET IMPACT:
None.
STRATEGIC PLANNING GOAL/OBJECTIVE:
Operational Excellence & Efficiency
STAFF CONTACT:
Christina Cintron
ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit A: Board Summary Worksheet
Exhibit B: Current Certification Form
Exhibit C: Prior Certification Request