January 15: Monday marked the annual holiday observed nationwide to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. — America's most compelling and effective civil rights leader. We are also profoundly grateful for Dr. King's powerful advocacy for labor unions and workers' rights.

January 16: PPOA representatives participated in a Law Enforcement Technician (LET) Joint Labor Management Committee meeting with Assistant Sheriff Torres and Department executives to discuss issues impacting LETs, specifically the LET Patrol/Bureau Services Dispatcher Bonus. 

PPOA was advised that the Department had recently sent the LET Patrol/Bureau Services Dispatcher Bonus request form (471) to LETs assigned to a patrol station or bureau and whose primary function is to dispatch service calls. To see an examplar of the form which is provided by your unit, click here.

All eligible LETs should immediately submit the completed request form to your unit to receive the 2% bonus, which is retroactive to October 1, 2023. It is the Department's goal to process this form and issue the retroactive bonus pay by February 29, 2024. Should you have any questions, please send an email to info@ppoa.com.

PPOA sent an email to LETs yesterday (1/19/24) to update them on the details referenced above.

January 17: PPOA was honored to support personnel from Norwalk Station, Training Bureau, and the Tactics and Survival Unit as they hosted a BBQ fundraiser for the family of Sergeant Danilo Castaneda Jr. (EOW 1/2/24). The PPOA BBQ trailer was staged at the event at STARS Center in order to help grill lunch for all in attendance and President Steve Johnson was proud to present a check from PPOA to assist with the fundraiser.

January 17: The monthly Board of Directors meeting for the Star & Shield Foundation was hosted on Wednesday. The Foundation was established by PPOA members in 2001 and has proudly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy organizations and charitable causes — including its most important mission to provide ongoing support for families of fallen officers. 

Meeting participants included Foundation Directors Steve Johnson, Jay Chapman, Tony Coleman, Joyce Kato, Chris Lee, Thomas Aragon, and Kevin Thompson, as well as Julie Sherman (from the firm of Straussner • Sherman • Lonne • Treger • Helquist), Gold Lee (from the firm of Lewis, Marenstein, Wicke, Sherwin and Lee) and Wayne Quint Jr. (PPOA), who attended as guests.

January 17: Los Angeles County labor leaders hosted their monthly Coalition of County Unions (CCU) meeting to discuss the ongoing challenges and issues impacting County employees. PPOA was represented by Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr., who participated via conference call.

The CCU represents 15 labor organizations with more than 30,000 union members employed by the County of Los Angeles and is their unified voice on health insurance, vacation pay, retirement and more.

January 18: PPOA President Steve Johnson joined fellow representatives of the California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation (CPOMF) for a meeting to discuss logistical planning for the 2024 memorial ceremonies on State Capitol grounds.

January 18: PPOA met with BOLRAC and Personnel Administration Bureau regarding the proposed revision of the Sergeant and Lieutenant candidate assignment forms. Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr. and union legal counsel represented PPOA at this meeting.

Important news regarding 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: wmwestermann@sbcglobal.net