Bodyguard who had affair with mayor will get $80K annual pension

The police bodyguard who had an affair with Mayor Megan Barry will get a $6,691 monthly pension, an amount which increased substantially because of the overtime he was paid.

In retirement, Sgt. Rob Forrest would get $80,302.56 a year. That amount could fluctuate if he takes an upfront partial lump-sum payment, according to human resources records.

Forrest, who retired Jan. 31 after 31 years and 3 months with the department, has applied for his pension, according to Metro Human Resources. The Employee Benefits Board still needs to give its approval.

One longtime employee benefits board member said under Nashville law, if any of the ongoing investigations reveal he collected overtime illegally, then Forrest's pension may be reduced.

The pension formula used by the city averages all income over the five-year period during which an employee earned the most money. A police officer's pension is 2 percent times the five-year earnings average for up to 25 years of service. For officers with more than 25 years of service, the calculation includes an additional 1.75 percent times the average five-year earnings average for each additional year.

In addition to his base salary of about $84,000 over his last five years on the job, Forrest regularly earned overtime pay under Mayor Karl Dean and Barry.

Forrest's overtime increased substantially under Barry. He earned $75,462 in overtime pay for fiscal year 2017, and $59,578 in overtime pay for fiscal year 2016 during Barry's tenure.

Forrest earned $35,747 from overtime in fiscal year 2015, $31,748 in fiscal year 2014 and $34,186 for fiscal year 2013 when Dean was mayor.

As Forrest's overtime increased, so did the monthly pension he is eligible to earn.

According to records obtained by The Tennessean, the Human Resources Department sent Forrest a letter estimating a $6,691 monthly pension as of Jan. 31.

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By comparison, a similar letter Dec. 31, 2016 — about one year earlier — estimated his monthly pension at $6,003. The July 22, 2015 monthly pension estimate for Forrest was $5,184.

Forrest's monthly pension estimate rose by $1,507 in those two and a half years.

Barry, a Democrat, and Forrest traveled alone on 10 trips in 2016 and 2017. Forrest was there to provide security and Barry said the trips were for city business.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into the affair between Barry and Forrest, who are both married. Metro Council has approved a special committee to investigate public money spent on travel and overtime expenses. On Wednesday, a complaint was filed with the Metro Board of Ethical Conduct.

"I would imagine what would happen is if any of these investigations going on determined that money was earned illegally, then we would go back and modify his pension," said B.R. Hall, who has served on the employee benefits board since 1985.

Reach Nate Rau at 615-259-8094 and nrau@tennessean.com. Follow him on Twitter @tnnaterau.