PPOA Week in Review: August 5, 2023

Crucial LACERA Election for Retired Members;

Vote for HARRIS and MARTIN

ATTENTION RETIRED PPOA MEMBERS - Help protect your pension and healthcare benefits by voting for these LACERA candidates who have been endorsed by PPOA and ALADS:

J.P. HARRIS (LASD retired/PPOA member/former ALADS president) for Alternate Retired Member, LACERA Board of Retirement
DEBBIE MARTIN (retired LA County chief deputy director) for 8th Member, LACERA Board of Investments

Retired PPOA member Les Robbins is also up for election this year, however he is running unopposed for the LACERA Board of Retirement and will be automatically re-elected.

The PPOA Board of Directors is confident that J.P. Harris and Debbie Martin are uniquely qualified to protect the interests of our members. We strongly encourage retired PPOA members to vote for Harris and Martin for their respective seats.

About the Election

Members of the Los Angeles County Employee Retirement Association (LACERA) who were retired on or before April 15 are eligible to vote in the election, which will be held August 4-31. LACERA members may vote by email or printed ballot. Ballots were mailed to members on August 2. Voter information and log-in credentials were e-mailed on August 4 to retirees who have valid e-mail addresses on file with LACERA. Those who do not have an email address or have an invalid e-mail address on file with LACERA will receive log-in credentials and voter information with their paper ballots.

LACERA election information, Candidate Statements, and a list of Departmental Election Coordinators can be found at http://bos.lacounty.gov/services/conflict-of-interest-lobbyist/lacera -elections.

About LACERA

The Board of Retirement and Board of Investments govern LACERA, which is an independent government entity separate and distinct from the County of Los Angeles. LACERA administers and manages the retirement fund for the County and outside special districts, one of the largest county retirement systems in the United States. The Board of Retirement is responsible for the administration of the retirement system, the retiree health care program, and the review and processing of disability retirement applications. The Board of Investments is responsible for establishing LACERA’s investment policy and objectives, exercising authority and control over the investment management of the fund, and establishing contribution rates to assure proper funding of the system.

PPOA Legislative Committee Meeting

August 1: PPOA Legislative Committee members hosted a teleconference with our Sacramento legislative representatives — Lang, Hansen, Giroux and Kidane — for the monthly discussion about legislative proposals in the current 2023-2024 session that may potentially impact PPOA members and public safety employees statewide.

Meeting participants from PPOA included President Nancy Escobedo and Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr.

PPOA has a proven track record of impactful legislative strategies that stretches back more than 50 years and has dramatically improved the rights and benefits of generations of PPOA members.

Proudly Supporting National Night Out

August 1: President Escobedo and Staff Member Rico Escalante joined San Dimas Station personnel and community members on Tuesday in support of National Night Out. The event at Civic Center Park was part of an annual nationwide program that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.

Meet and Confer re: LASD Lieutenant Exam

August 2: PPOA took part in a Meet and Confer with representatives from the Bureau of Labor Relations and Compliance, Personnel, Sworn Exams, and the Test Development Unit to discuss the proposed 2023 LASD Lieutenant Exam. Meeting participants from PPOA included President Escobedo, Executive Director Quint, and union legal counsel.

PPOA Members - End of Watch Tribute

We extend sincere condolences to the families and friends of the following PPOA members who passed in June 2023:

Retired Supervising Public Response Dispatcher Gregory Aguirre — 6/11/23

Served as PPOA delegate

LASD ret. 2022

Last assignment: Sheriff’s Communication Center

Retired Sergeant Henry Hoppe — 6/16/23

Began career with LA County Marshal’s Office

Served as PPOA delegate

LASD ret. 2001

Last assignment: Court Services East

US Army veteran

Condolences may be emailed to the Hoppe family: smhop@att.net

Court Services Specialist Eric Taylor — 6/17/23

Served as PPOA delegate

Brother of Custody Assistant Ben Taylor and retired Sergeant Rex Taylor

Assigned to Civil Management Bureau at time of passing

Retired Sergeant Roger Jewell – 6/19/23

LASD ret. 1995

Academy class 89

Last assignment: Walnut Station

Condolences may be emailed to the Jewell family: barbjj51@yahoo.com

Retired Sergeant Danny Bullocks — 6/20/23

LASD ret. 2014

Academy class 214

Last assignment: Century Regional Detention Center

Condolences may be emailed to the Bullocks family: heartnbull@yahoo.com

Fraternal Order of Police News Update

PPOA members have long benefitted from our longtime affiliation with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the world's largest organization of law enforcement officers, with more than 364,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges nationwide. All active PPOA members are part of California FOP Lodge 1.

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 2023. To do so, please send an email to the FOP Lodge 1 Secretary: wmwestermann@sbcglobal.net. Be sure to include your full name and advise you are a retired PPOA member requesting membership with FOP.

Please make it a point to check out Washington Watch — a weekly 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.

22nd Annual PPOA Pre-Labor Day BBQ

and General Membership Meeting

PPOA is excited to announce our 22nd Annual Pre-Labor Day BBQ and General Membership Meeting is scheduled for August 30th. Join hundreds of fellow PPOA members for this FREE, FUN event!

Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Biscailuz Center
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Free lunch for PPOA members and immediate family, along with free giveaways, drawings, music, vendors and more...