PPOA Week in Review - July 20, 2024

Helping PPOA Members Prepare for Retirement

July 13: PPOA members preparing to wrap up their dedicated careers in public service gathered in the union conference center last weekend for a free retirement-planning workshop. We're thankful for all who joined us, including guest speakers from LACERA, Empower/Horizons, Fraternal Order of Police, United Estate Planning and the firm of Lewis, Marenstein, Wicke, Sherwin & Lee. PPOA is proud to help our members prepare for a meaningful and well-deserved retirement.

Meet and Confer re: Proposed Schedule Change for Custody Assistants at PDC North

July 15: PPOA representatives took part in a Meet and Confer with the Captain from PDC North to discuss preliminary scenarios for a temporary schedule change for Custody Assistants at that facility. A follow-up meeting is expected to be scheduled next month.

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

California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation

Board of Directors Meeting

July 17: PPOA President Steve Johnson joined fellow representatives of the California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation (CPOMF) for a board meeting hosted by the Riverside Sheriffs' Association. CPOMF is a nonprofit charitable foundation whose mission is to recognize and honor California’s peace officers who gave their lives in the line of duty, and provide support to the family members left behind.

Click here for information about the California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation.

Star & Shield Foundation Board of Directors Meeting

July 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, Chris Lee, Thomas Aragon, and Members-at-Large Kevin Thompson and Margarita Turpen, as well as Aaron Straussner and Julie Sherman (from the firm of Straussner, Sherman, Lonne, Treger and Helquist), and Wayne Quint Jr., and Maricela Villegas, each of whom attended as guests.

California Contract Cities Association Board of Directors Meeting

July 17: PPOA President Steve Johnson joined fellow representatives of the California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) for a board of directors and general membership meeting hosted by the LA County Fire Department.

The CCCA represents 80 cities in and around Los Angeles County. Currently, 42 cities contract with LASD, which brings $315 million in annual revenue to the Sheriff's Department. CCCA membership provides PPOA, ALADS and other organizations with valuable educational and advocacy opportunities as well as invitations to CCCA City Manager meetings, legislative tours and more.

Custody Assistant Class #112 Graduation;

Final Academy Class Under the Remarkable Guidance

of C.A. Sharon Garay

July 18: The graduation ceremony for Custody Assistant Class 112 was hosted at Biscailuz Regional Training Center on Thursday. Second Vice President/Custody Assistant Tony Coleman and Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr. represented PPOA at this event.

Congratulations to all 28 members of Class 112 for the teamwork and commitment required to complete the academy and begin promising new careers with the Sheriff's Department.

PPOA also extends our gratitude to Custody Assistant Sharon Garay, who has been a dedicated drill instructor for 34 C.A. academy classes over the last 18 years. Class #112 was the final class to graduate under her remarkable guidance. Her leadership and commitment has had a positive impact on more than 1,000 Custody Assistants who have graduated from the academy during her tenure. Vice President Coleman proudly presented a plaque on behalf of PPOA to Custody Assistant Garay during the graduation ceremony.

Click here to view the photo album from the graduation.

California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations Meeting

July 18: President Steve Johnson joined fellow members of the California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations (CCLEA) for a meeting to discuss issues impacting public safety employees around the state. This meeting was hosted by the Riverside Sheriffs' Association.

CCLEA is the state’s largest law enforcement organization, representing more than 40 law enforcement associations and 150,000 peace officers. For more information, visit CCLEA.ORG

PPOA Members Head to Sea for 24th Annual Fishing Trip

July 19: Before the sun rose and temperatures began to soar yesterday, a boatload of PPOA members and their guests escaped the mainland for a full day of fishing along the Southern California coast. PPOA has chartered a boat for members for 24 consecutive years and we're thankful to all who have joined us in pursuit of fishes and memorable moments at sea.

Sheriff Security Officer Class #60 Graduation

July 19: Family members and friends of the 10 recruits in Sheriff Security Officer Class gathered at STARS Center for the graduation ceremony this week. Board Member/Sheriff Security Officer Luis Orozco and President Steve Johnson were honored to represent PPOA at this event.

Congratulations to every member of Class 60 for embracing the commitment and camaraderie necessary to complete the academy.

Click here to view the photo album from the graduation.

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.