PPOA Week in Review

Attention SSOs/SSAs:

Three Days Left to Vote in Board Election

Sheriff Security Officers and Sheriff Security Assistants: Please be advised that you have three days left to vote for your Unit 621 board representative. Three PPOA members are running for the board of directors seat to represent SSOs and SSAs. If you have not done so already, please click below to access your official electronic ballot for the Unit 621 board seat election. Per PPOA bylaws, ballots can be cast from 10/21/25 to 11/18/25 at 4:00pm. Voting results will be tabulated by an independent election firm and confirmed by a committee of PPOA members on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in the PPOA board room (originally scheduled for 11/21/25). Members are invited to attend with RSVP to (323) 261-3010.

CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE BALLOT

Important note: Only members who have registered to vote in the PPOA election portal will be able to cast a ballot. If you have not yet registered, please click here immediately.

PPOA Awards Committee Meeting

November 10: Members of the PPOA awards recognition committee met on Monday to discuss the ceremony scheduled for December 11, 2025 in Pasadena to formally recognize members of this Association for exemplary performance, honorable military service or acts of valor. Meeting participants included PPOA President Steve Johnson and Board Members Walter Arcos, Christopher Lee, and Joe Walker.

Acknowledging Veterans for Their Service and Sacrifice

November 11: We are profoundly grateful to our nation's military veterans, including countless PPOA members who proudly served in the armed forces.

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, a way to mark the end of World War I when fighting stopped on November 11, 1918. It was a day for our nation to remember those who served in that war, but after World War II and the Korean War, the U.S. decided to honor all veterans instead of just one group. In 1954, it officially became Veterans Day. The day is about honoring everyone who has served — past and present — and thanking them for the courage, sacrifice and dedication they’ve shown in protecting the country.

PPOA Board of Directors Meeting

November 12: The monthly PPOA Board of Directors meeting was hosted in San Dimas on Wednesday. Directors in attendance included President Steve Johnson, 2nd Vice President Joe Walker, Secretary Chris Lee, Treasurer Joyce Kato, and Board Members Roel Garcia, Luis Orozco, Melissa Rodriguez, and Rob Weber.

Support for Custody Assistant Class #117

November 13: Custody Assistant/PPOA Board Member Melissa Rodriguez visited with C.A. Class #117 at Biscailuz Center the day before their graduation to provide support and discuss a wide range of topics.

Preparation for Unit 612 Leadership Training Webinar

November 14: This week, preparations were made for the upcoming training webinar for PPOA members in Unit 612. The Zoom video conference will take place on Wednesday, November 19th at 10:00 a.m. A link to the webinar will be emailed to Unit 612 members.

This will be the 10th in a series of 12 training webinars tailored specifically for LASD and LADA lieutenants and sergeants as part of our partnership with Echelon Front, a widely-respected leadership development organization.

The webinars and corresponding training books are byproducts of previous contract negotiations between PPOA and the County.

Custody Assistant Class #117 Graduation

November 14: The academy graduation ceremony for Custody Assistant Class #117 was hosted yesterday at East Los Angeles College. Board Member/Custody Assistant Melissa Rodriguez and President Steve Johnson were proud to represent PPOA at the ceremony.

Congratulations to all members of Class #117 for the teamwork and dedication required to complete the academy and begin promising new careers with the Sheriff's Department.

Click here to view the full photo album from the graduation.

PPOA Members:

Are Your Registered for Online Union Elections?

PPOA staff has been contacting members over the last three months to remind everyone that union elections going forward will be conducted online. In order to cast electronic ballots, members need to complete a one-time registration. If you have not already done so, please click here to register.

Hundreds of PPOA members have registered in the last few months, but we still have a long way to go. Make sure you are eligible to vote online by registering today!

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 $44 for 2025. 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.