Station Closures and Bureau Eliminations Among Sheriff's Plan to Help Alleviate Budget Deficit
May 4: During a news briefing on Monday, Sheriff Villanueva announced plans to alleviate the LASD budget deficit by potentially closing two patrol stations, eliminating two bureaus and several reductions at units throughout the department. According to the Sheriff's proposal, the closures of Altadena Station and Marina del Rey Station will save $12 million annually and shuttering Parks Bureau and Community Partnership (COPS) Bureau will save $62 million a year. He also said the department will reduce the number of DST academy classes from 12 to 8 per year, providing a savings of nearly $22 million.

Compounding the obvious challenges presented by this plan is the fact that neither PPOA nor ALADS received details of the Sheriff's plan until the media briefing was streamed live. "It's very concerning that the Sheriff chose not to include the unions in the discussion while devising a plan that will have significant impact on members assigned to the units in question," said PPOA President Tab Rhodes. "I look forward to frank discussions about this process with the Sheriff and his staff soon."

PPOA Welcomes 96 Newly-Promoted Sergeants
May 4: President Rhodes, Executive Director Wayne Quint and PPOA staff members proudly welcomed 96 newly-promoted sergeants to your union on Monday morning. We wish them all the best of luck as the next generation of supervisors leading the department forward.
Meet and Confer Regarding SCC Schedule Changes
May 4: President Rhodes and Executive Director Quint teleconferenced with Employee Relations, Captain Anderson and command staff from the Sheriff’s Communications Center (SCC) regarding a proposed schedule change for some Sergeants and Supervising Public Response Dispatchers (PRD) assigned to the Bridge at the SCC.


COVID-19 Conference with Coalition of County Unions
May 5: Tuesday represented the first regularly scheduled meeting of the week for President Rhodes, Executive Director Quint, Labor Rep. Venise Wallace, Labor Rep. Teresa O'Neil, Intake Rep. Kevin Thompson and PPOA attorneys to address and analyze COVID-19 issues impacting PPOA members.
Decontamination Center Conversation
May 5: President Rhodes participated in a teleconference on Tuesday with Captain Kovac, Lieutenant Eckstrom of Emergency Operations Bureau, and representatives from Employee Relations and the Department of Public Health in order to discuss needs, information available, and further questions related to the pending opening of the LASD COVID-19 Regional Decontamination Center.

Conference with Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner
May 5: A teleconference was hosted on Tuesday for PPOA Board Member Joyce Kato, Executive Director Quint, Labor Representative O'Neil, Intake Representative Thompson and executives from the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Discussions centered on COVID-19 issues impacting members.
COVID-19 Conference with District Attorney's Office
May 6: A teleconference was hosted Wednesday morning for Board Member Robert Maus, President Rhodes, Executive Director Quint and executives from the DA's Bureau of Investigation to  discuss issues, mostly concerning COVID-19, affecting PPOA members.
Drawing Attention to Need for Federal Reimbursement Funds
May 6: PPOA joined other LA County and City unions on Wednesday at Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes. The gathering was arranged to bring attention to the need for federal reimbursement funds to the State of California, Los Angeles County, and Los Angeles City to offset lost revenue and costs of the COVID-19 crisis. Tony Coleman, Custody Assistant and Executive Board Member of PPOA, was one of the featured speakers.
Conference Call Regarding AB2655
May 6: President Rhodes participated in a joint conference call with ALADS President Ron Hernandez, Sheriff Villanueva, Undersheriff Murakami, Assistant Sheriffs Limon and Gross along with Chief of Staff Captain John Burcher, to discuss Assembly Bill 2655 . This bill, as currently written, would make it a misdemeanor for a first responder, as defined, who responds to the scene of an accident or crime to use a personal electronic device or a device belonging to their employing agency to capture the image of a deceased person for any purpose other than an official law enforcement purpose or for a genuine public interest. Sheriff Villanueva is the sponsor and is an active advocate for its passage. At this time, as written, both PPOA and ALADS have advised the Sheriff we oppose any proposed legislation which may bring harm to our membership.
California Streamlines Workers Comp for Essential Employees
Who Contract Coronavirus
May 6: An  executive order  was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday to effectively streamline workers' compensation claims for essential employees who contract COVID-19.

Under this executive order, essential employees in California who are diagnosed within two weeks of reporting to work between March 19 and July 5 will be presumed to have contracted COVID-19 on the job. This shifts the burden of proof that typically falls on an employee and instead requires companies or insurers to prove the employee didn’t get sick at work.

More information is available in the email sent to active PPOA members on Thursday.
COVID-19 Conference with PPOA Legal Team
May 7: Thursday represented the second regularly scheduled meeting of the week for President Rhodes, Executive Director Quint, Labor Rep. Wallace, Labor Rep. O'Neil, Intake Rep. Thompson and PPOA attorneys to address and analyze COVID-19 issues impacting PPOA members.
Free COVID-19 Testing for LA County Essential Workers
Any PPOA member who resides in LA County is now able to receive FREE COVID-19 testing across the County of Los Angeles. More info here:  https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/

Because PPOA members are deemed Essential Workers, the need to be COVID-19 symptomatic is NOT a criteria to receive the free test. Again, PPOA members must reside in LA County to receive the test and must make an appointment online: https://lacovidprod.service-now.com/rrs

PPOA College Scholarships Available Online
PPOA is proud to announce that 12 scholarships worth $13,500 total are available to help further the education of PPOA members and their dependents. The  deadline to apply  is close of business (5:00 pm) on  May 15, 2020. Since this program's inception eight years ago, PPOA has awarded approximately $100,000 in scholarships to members of the PPOA family. For more information about the 2020 scholarships, including criteria and applications, please visit  PPOA.COM
PPOA Benefit Spotlight:
Exclusive 40% PPOA Discount for RAEN Eyewear
This week, we are proud to announce another exclusive discount offered to PPOA members. RAEN Optics  has generously agreed to offer an 40% discount code to PPOA members as a measure of gratitude for your service to Los Angeles County. RAEN offers carefully crafted eyewear that is "on trend, fashion-driven" and available at an accessible price. We want to thank RAEN for standing with us and we encourage PPOA members to support those who support law enforcement. 
 
Steps to redeem 40% discount:
1.    Go to link:  RAEN.COM
2.    Select product(s) of choice.
3.    Enter code at checkout: RAENXLACOPPOA2040​


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