A legislative town hall in Coeur d’Alene descended into chaos when Teresa Borrenpohl found herself dragged across the floor by plainclothes security after shouting about a legislator’s use of public lands. The incident, which left her with a misdemeanor battery citation, began when Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris - dressed in jeans and a baseball cap - approached her in the darkened auditorium.

… The security firm LEAR Asset Management, licensed as a private patrol operator in California but whose plainclothes presence violated Coeur d’Alene city code requiring clearly marked uniforms, has declined to comment. While Norris claims no knowledge of security arrangements, KCRCC chair Brent Regan stated, “Nothing was done without him being aware.”

Before becoming sheriff, Norris served as a Lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, where he led counter-terrorism efforts at the Joint Regional Intelligence Center after 9/11. Working under then-Sheriff Lee Baca, he held top security clearance while managing personnel from the FBI and CIA.

Now, records from Transparent California reveal Norris collects $186,675 annually from the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association - including $150,282 in disability payments and $36,393 in benefits. While claiming in 2020 he received only pension payments, he recently disclosed having partial disability ratings - 12% for his right shoulder and 13% for his left. However, after video surfaced of Norris physically grabbing and attempting to remove Borrenpohl from the town hall, users online have begun questioning whether he should still be receiving disability payments based on alleged physical impairments.

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Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20250226123917/https://lamag.com/news/educator-dragged-from-idaho-town-hall-on-orders-of-ex-la-sheriffs-deputy-collecting-150k-in-disability

  • @[email protected]
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    16 hours ago

    Having a disability doesn’t mean his arms don’t work. It could be chronic or other range of motion issues. Or he can’t bear loads frequently or for long periods of time.

    • @workerONE
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      14 hours ago

      For example maybe he would have difficulty dragging a child across a floor for a longer period of time

    • @dogslayeggs
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      1914 hours ago

      The point of disability is that you are unable to do a job and need assistance to continue living. This person is a sheriff NOW. His disability was from when he was a lieutenant with the sheriff’s office. So he is being paid because he can’t be a lieutenant but is perfectly fine being a sheriff?

      • @[email protected]
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        -914 hours ago

        The point of disability is that you are unable to do a job and need assistance to continue living.

        Nope.

        This person is a sheriff NOW. His disability was from when he was a lieutenant

        Disability is not tied to a job.

        So he is being paid because he can’t be a lieutenant but is perfectly fine being a sheriff?

        If he’s unable to work full-time at his position or has other limitations on his work performance then he his eligible for benefits regardless of what position he held when he started them.

        It may be that he hasn’t disclosed to SSA what he’s making and is in fact committing fraud. But your understanding of SSA is very incorrect.

        • @dogslayeggs
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          511 hours ago

          So you think it’s totally cool to have a person collect disability payments for years and years while working a full time job that pays even more than the job they are collecting disability from?

          I get workman’s comp and suing for injuries incurred from a job, but at some point it is ridiculous to pay someone a full salary to not do anything when they are CLEARLY capable of performing the same job they are being paid to not do.

          • @[email protected]
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            -110 hours ago

            So you think it’s totally cool to have a person collect disability payments for years and years while working a full time job that pays even more than the job they are collecting disability from?

            Ahh, we’re at the point where people just start ascribing straw-man arguments to me. Bye bye.

            • @dogslayeggs
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              510 hours ago

              You are the one who is arguing that this sheriff, who has a full time job with a higher rank in the same office as before, should still be receiving disability.

              I was on disability for a time and was not allowed to work at all while on it. Once I was able to work again, I was taken off disability.

              • @[email protected]
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                -29 hours ago

                You are the one who is arguing that this sheriff, who has a full time job with a higher rank in the same office as before, should still be receiving disability.

                I am not.

    • @RaoulDook
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      2715 hours ago

      ACAB so I don’t give a fuck about his problems. I hope he loses that disability check for being an evil bastard fascist.

      • @[email protected]
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        -2315 hours ago

        Will you give a fuck when politicians make it harder for people to obtain disability benefits?

        “He’s not hurting the right people” amiright?

        • @RaoulDook
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          1614 hours ago

          They already are doing that, and I think it sucks nasty balls. The Krasnov government is in the process of massive cuts to Medicaid and other benefits as we speak.

          This is unrelated to the pig committing disability fraud though.

      • @[email protected]
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        -2515 hours ago

        Sorry, I forgot today we’re against Americans with disabilities. Gotta have those principles.

        • @ChicoSuave
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          1013 hours ago

          Got it. You’re an idiot arguing in bad faith. You don’t care about anyone, much less folks with ability issues.

          • @[email protected]
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            -1713 hours ago

            This might be the stupidest reply I’ve ever received? Hard to tell, so many contenders.

      • @[email protected]
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        016 hours ago

        This ain’t Reddit. We are okay taking a moment to ensure we’re not going-off half-cocked.

        • @[email protected]
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          915 hours ago

          This is why magats are winning the information wars. It’s a post truth world friend, but when it’s your turn to get on the train you can take solace in the fact that you were right.

            • @[email protected]
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              1113 hours ago

              In the future, when some fascist militia member has you on your knees in front of a ditch, you’ll be able to reflect back on this moment and revel in your moral superiority.

              🏅

              • @[email protected]
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                -713 hours ago

                You’re just telling me that your fascism is better than their fascism. But you both suck.

                • @grue
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                  612 hours ago

                  “Your self-defense is no better than their aggression!”

                  STFU. Your hot take is bad and you should feel bad.

    • @[email protected]
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      813 hours ago

      Article straight up calls out that he has partial disability in his left and right shoulders, unless he’s secretly Rayman and his arms don’t connect to his shoulders?

      • @AbidanYre
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        49 hours ago

        Sounds like DEI to me.

        • @[email protected]
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          210 hours ago

          Yep, those are some random parts of comments that you quoted that don’t refute my point, good job! Try reading the article next time

          • @[email protected]
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            -310 hours ago

            Does having a disability means his arms don’t work? Your “point” was far too clever for me.

    • @[email protected]
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      914 hours ago

      He can work, normal people with disabilities that work lose their disability check and normally die when they lose their job since it will take them years to requalify.

      If he wants to bring in more disability check money than the majority of people in the us make, he should be so disabled he cannot function at all day to day. Because he makes more than those that are so challenged by God.

      • @[email protected]
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        -1814 hours ago

        He can work, normal people with disabilities that work lose their disability check

        Nope

        • @[email protected]
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          1212 hours ago

          Yes, yes they do.

          SSDI in the US has strict income limits below the amount you receive in SSDI payments. If you cross that limit, which you will do if you work full time in any legally paid position or part time in any competently paid position, you no longer qualify and have to reapply from the beginning.

          SSI is similar, except you also cannot have any assets or investments.

          The US has the worst disability programs in the developed world, and one of the worst among countries that have similar programs.

          On top of this both SSI and SSDI payments are taxed, despite being funded by the person’s own taxes, meaning the amount you get is even further reduced.

          On top of this it is possible to qualify for SSDI but not Medicare or Medicaid, meaning of the meager payments most of that money has to go towards medical care instead of living.

          This piece of trash with his supplemental insurance bypassed that and is working when most would be too scared of losing their limited fixed income. And he’s working to oppress others.

          No one deserves to be disabled, but this person deserves far worse.

          • @[email protected]
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            -812 hours ago

            Social Security disability insurance doesn’t have a limit on unearned income, but there is a limit on how much you can make from working.

            So… Yeah - as I said - you can receive benefits while working.

            • @[email protected]
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              511 hours ago

              Reread that, or go down a paragraph.

              SSDI cannot make over 1,500$ a month from working or earned income. They can have assets and investments though. SSI has a lower income limit and cannot have assets or investments.

              The income limit for SSDI is lower than the normal SSDI payment, and lower than most states (by population) full time minimum wage.

              • @[email protected]
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                -611 hours ago

                I didn’t say anything about limits. I only said that he can work while receiving benefits. Which you’ve provided evidence for.

                • @[email protected]
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                  411 hours ago

                  If he’s taking less than minimum wage or is volunteering, or he’s working part time at minimum wage, sure. For California he has to be working less than 101hours a month at minimum wage. Which realistically an ex cop used to a six figure salary isn’t doing.

                  • @[email protected]
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                    -311 hours ago

                    Yeah - I don’t know if he’s receiving pay or working more than allowed - the article seems more focused on “he’s receiving disability but he’s able to move!”.

                    People seem to think that disability is only for people who would be completely unable to move for some reason. I hate to see people turn on this since it can be difficult enough to get disability benefits.