PPOA Week in Review - Dec. 7, 2024

Oath of Office for LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn

December 2: President Steve Johnson and Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr. attended the oath of office ceremony for Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn on Monday as she was officially sworn in as Fourth District Supervisor for her third and final term. Her brother, Superior Court Judge James Hahn, administered the oath of office at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, named after the supervisor's late father, Kenneth Hahn.

The five-member Board of Supervisors is the governing body of LA County and holds executive, legislative and quasi-judicial roles. The Board supervises all County departments, determines County and special district policies and sets salaries of County personnel.

Support for TTCF Personnel

December 3: PPOA was proud to deliver a treadmill to Twin Towers Correctional Facility for use in their staff gym. In a continuing effort to support health and fitness for members and department personnel, PPOA's Star & Shield Foundation teams up with Discount Fitness in Bellflower to secure a limited number of treadmills and ellipticals for employee gyms at facilities throughout the County. The refurbished, high-end commercial machines are purchased by the Foundation at discounted pricing and delivered by PPOA to select units where our members have an expressed need for exercise equipment.

To date in 2024, we have delivered equipment to six units and four additional units are on the waiting list for treadmills. While we are on hold for the remainder of the year, please know that we've arranged for Discount Fitness to extend special pricing to PPOA members interested in purchasing fitness equipment for staff gyms or personal use. For more info, call Discount Fitness at (562) 531-7767 and tell them you're a member of the Professional Peace Officers Association.

Oath of Office for District Attorney Nathan Hochman

December 3: Nathan Hochman was sworn in as Los Angeles County's 44th District Attorney in a ceremony on the steps of the Hall of Justice. The oath of office was administered by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. President Steve Johnson and Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr. attended the event on behalf of PPOA.

The PPOA-endorsed former prosecutor and defense attorney campaigned on taking a tougher-on-crime approach while restoring trust within the District Attorney's Office. D.A. Hochman has also vowed to tap into state laws that allow district attorneys to wield a heavier hand when it comes to prosecuting property crimes. For these reasons and more, PPOA was one of the top funders for a coalition independent expenditure committee in support of the Hochman campaign. His considerable experience includes serving as assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California in the 1990s and assistant attorney general for the U.S. Justice Department under former President George W. Bush.

Custody Labor Management Committee Meeting

December 4: PPOA participated in a Custody Joint Labor Management Committee (LMC) meeting with LASD representatives to discuss issues impacting PPOA members assigned to Custody Division. These Custody LMC meetings are the result of contract negotiations between PPOA and the Sheriff's Department, as outlined in Article 26 of the Unit 621 Memorandum of Understanding.

Meeting participants from PPOA included 2nd Vice President/Custody Assistant Tony Coleman, President Steve Johnson, and Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr.

Meet and Confer re: Sheriff's Intelligence Unit's Reorganization within SIB and MCB

December 4: PPOA representatives met with LASD executives regarding the implementation of a plan to enhance and expand the Sheriff’s Intelligence Unit in partnership with Major Crimes Bureau and the Sheriff’s Information Bureau. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled for the proposed plan.

Meeting participants from PPOA included President Steve Johnson, Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr. and union legal counsel.

Victory Celebration Honoring District Attorney Hochman

December 4: PPOA board members attended an event recognizing the campaign victory of Nathan Hochman, our 44th Los Angeles County District Attorney. The event was graciously hosted by ALADS in Monterey Park. Voters overwhelmingly agreed that Mr. Hochman was the best choice to restore public safety in Los Angeles County. Along with numerous public safety partners, PPOA played a key role in an independent expenditure committee which was pivotal in getting Mr. Hochman elected.

President Steve Johnson, 1st Vice President Jay Chapman, and Board Members Walter Arcos and Luis Orozco, along with Board Member-Elect Robert Weber (to be sworn in on 12/11/24) represented PPOA at this event.

PPOA Earns Significant Victory at ERCOM

December 5: On Thursday, PPOA sent an email to members notifying them that ERCOM ruled in favor of PPOA and ALADS in regards to an Unfair Labor Charge filed by the unions against the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the County and the Sheriff's Department. This case is one of five successful challenges by PPOA and ALADS to stop the attempt by the OIG and the County to obtain information from Department members illegally and without affording them legal protections under the law.

Click here to read a complete copy of the latest decision.

Fraternal Order of Police News Update

PPOA members have long benefitted from our affiliation with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the world's largest organization of law enforcement officers, with more than 374,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges nationwide. All active PPOA members are part of California FOP Lodge 1.

Important update re: FOP membership for retired PPOA members

When a sworn PPOA member retires and wishes to reactivate his/her FOP member benefits, the following step must be taken: To reactivate your membership as a retired peace officer, you will need to pay FOP annual dues of $40 for 2024. To do so, please send an email to the FOP Lodge 1 Secretary at wmwestermann@sbcglobal.net

Please make it a point to check out Washington Watch — a weekly news update provided by the National FOP. We encourage PPOA members to stay up to date on the legislative news and activity impacting public safety personnel nationwide.

Click here to read this week's Washington Watch.