PPOA Week in Review

PPOA Proudly Supports Pink Patch Project

September 12: Hundreds of first responders, cancer survivors and supporters gathered for the LASD Pink Patch 5K Run/Walk on Saturday. The breast cancer awareness event was hosted at Bonelli Park in San Dimas and President Steve Johnson, Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr., and union staff were proud to represent PPOA.

The Pink Patch Project was established in 2013 and 1,200 police agencies around the world have collectively raised more than $2 million in support of breast cancer research and education.

Custody Assistant Class #121 Orientation

September 14: PPOA representatives were honored to meet with 16 newly-hired Custody Assistants at Biscailuz Center during their first day of orientation. PPOA 2nd Vice President/Custody Assistant Melissa Rodriguez, President Steve Johnson, Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr., and Labor Representatives Dave Ladjevic and Mark Sanchez were on hand to welcome C.A. Class #121 as new members of PPOA.

PPOA Members Set to Campaign for Four Board Seats

September 15: Tuesday marked the final day to submit PPOA board nominating petitions. This election cycle will feature 10 members campaigning for 4 board seats.

Unit 612 (two seats available)

Lieutenant Robert Weber (incumbent)

Sergeant Thomas Aragon

Lieutenant Oscar Martinez

Sergeant Xochilt Rosas

Sergeant John Strosnider

Unit 615 (one seat available)

Captain Vanessa Chow

Captain Brian Jones

Unit 621 (one seat* available)

Public Response Dispatcher II Kristine Swain (incumbent)

Board Member Swain will be automatically re-elected as she was the only member to submit a petition for this seat.

*This seat is open only to Civilian Investigators, Court Services Specialists, Crime Analysts, Law Enforcement Technicians, and Public Response Dispatchers.

Unit 621 (one seat** available)

Custody Assistant Melissa Rodriguez (incumbent)

Board Member Rodriguez will be automatically re-elected as she was the only member to submit a petition for this seat.

**This seat is open only to Custody Assistants.

Retiree Representative (one seat available)

Retired Sergeant Jim Schallert (incumbent)

Retired Lieutenant Leo Bauer

Retired Sergeant Amore Smith

Candidate statements and photos will be printed in the October issue of Star & Shield magazine and will be emailed to PPOA members in the respective units listed above. Per PPOA bylaws, the online balloting window will open on October 21, 2026 and close on November 18, 2026. As a reminder, all PPOA voting is conducted online and members must be registered to vote before casting a ballot. Voting results will be tabulated by an independent election firm and be confirmed by a committee of PPOA members on November 20, 2026.

Memorial Service for Public Response Dispatcher II Lorena Villegas

September 15: Family members, friends, and colleagues of Public Response Dispatcher II Lorena Villegas gathered at Rose Hills Memorial Park to pay final respects to the 25-year LASD veteran.

President Steve Johnson, 1st Vice President Rob Weber, Board Member Kristine Swain, and Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr. attended the service on behalf of PPOA.

PPOA Unit 631/632 Salary Contract Negotiations

September 16: PPOA members on the Unit 631/632 Contract Negotiations team participated in their third round of salary contract negotiations when they met with executives from the County and the Department of Medical Examiner.

Star & Shield Foundation Board of Directors Meeting

September 16: The monthly Board of Directors meeting for the Star & Shield Foundation was hosted on Wednesday. This non-profit Foundation was established by PPOA members in 2001 and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable causes — including its most critical mission to provide ongoing support for families of fallen officers.

All Foundation proceeds stem directly from fundraising and the generosity of donors. Please click here to help make a difference in the lives of those in need. If you would like to contribute by phone, please call 323-261-3010. Gifts to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. The Star & Shield Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Tax ID #95-4752410.

Meeting participants included Foundation Directors Steve Johnson, Rob Weber, Chris Lee, and Member-at-Large Thomas Aragon. Guests included Julie Sherman and Wayne Quint Jr.

Professional Peace Officers Insurance Agency Board Meeting

September 16: The Professional Peace Officers Insurance Agency (PPOIA) Board of Directors meeting was hosted on Wednesday. PPOIA Directors are responsible for overseeing insurance products for members and establishing best business practices for the insurance agency.

California Contract Cities Association Board Meeting

September 16: PPOA President Steve Johnson joined fellow representatives of the California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) for a board meeting on Wednesday and served as guest speaker to discuss the importance of ensuring that LA County residents approve Measure A (binding arbitration) this November.

The CCCA represents 81 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.

PPOA Unit 621 Salary Contract Negotiations

September 17: PPOA members on the Unit 621 salary contract negotiations team met with representatives from the County of Los Angeles and the Sheriff's Department, in the PPOA conference center on Tuesday for the fifth round of salary contract bargaining.

California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation Meeting

September 17: President Steve Johnson joined fellow California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation (CPOMF) directors for a meeting to discuss enrollment of fallen officers, expansion of the memorial, and planning for the 2027 enrollment ceremony. This meeting was hosted by the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs.

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

PPOA Delegates Gather for Quarterly Meeting

September 17: PPOA delegates met with union board members and staff on Thursday evening in Valencia. Topics of discussion included salary contracts, elections, legislation, and more. During the meeting, President Steve Johnson proudly acknowledged former PPOA Board Member/Custody Assistant Tony Coleman as he heads into a well-deserved retirement after 28 years of service.

If you are an active PPOA member and would like to get more involved with matters impacting your career, we encourage you to join more than 120 union delegates throughout the County. Interested members should email full name and employee number to info@ppoa.com.

Hispanic Heritage Month Reception

September 18: President Steve Johnson attended the Hispanic Heritage Month reception hosted by LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis. This annual event at the Hall of Administration honored the resilience, leadership, and lasting impact of the Latino community and the remarkable work that continues to strengthen Los Angeles County.

Nominate a Worthy PPOA Member Today!

2nd Annual PPOA Awards Ceremony Set for December

PPOA will host our 2nd Annual Awards Ceremony on December 10, 2026 to formally recognize active and retired members of this Association for acts of heroism, distinguished service, military service, and community impact. Nomination forms are due to PPOA by September 30, 2026.

Please click here for nomination forms and details.

PPOA Members:

Are You Registered for Union Elections?

Please be advised that all PPOA voting is now 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.

We're thankful to the PPOA members who have registered to date, 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 382,000 members in more than 2,200 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 $48. To do so, please send an email to the FOP Lodge 1 Secretary at wmwestermann@sbcglobal.net

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.