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A former Montgomery County police officer receiving disability retirement benefits from the county was caught on tape teaching self-defense tactics and has held a series of jobs with responsibilities similar to police work.

According to a letter released Monday from county Inspector General Thomas J. Dagley, the officer, whose name was not released, was approved for the disability benefits in 2003.

That year, a disability review panel determined that the officer's impaired right upper extremity rendered him unable to meet key minimum qualifications of his position, according to the letter.

The former officer was also the subject of two separate complaints the same year alleging conflict of interest between his medical restrictions and his outside employment.

Working on a tip about disability retirement abuse, Dagley's office obtained video of the officer in October and November 2008 on three occasions working as a women's self-defense tactics instructor for a municipality in Maryland. Prior to that position, the former officer worked as an executive protection specialist and a self-defense instructor in 2004, and as a bailiff for the District Court of Maryland in 2006.

Dagley's letter comes as Montgomery officials work to overhaul the county's retirement practices after two recent reports — compiled by Dagley and by a task force commissioned by County Executive Isiah Leggett — questioned some payments and the large number of police officers approved for disability retirement.

Federal authorities have since subpoenaed documents for former Assistant Police Chiefs John King, who now serves as Gaithersburg police chief, and William C. O'Toole, current executive director of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy.

Both men receive disability retirement benefits from the county.

The former officer included in Dagley's letter received about $184,000 in tax-exempt disability retirement payment from July 2004 to June 2008. Dagley estimated that he could receive an additional $1.5 million over the next 30 years.

The inspector general's letter also recommended to county officials that a method to reassess the medical condition of employees receiving disability benefits be implemented.

The letter comes a day before County Council President Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg and Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) of North Bethesda introduce expedited legislation Tuesday to address some of the disability practices.