PPOA Files Temporary Restraining Order to Prevent Board of Supervisors from Changing County Code to Overstep Sheriff
On April 5th, 2022, the LA County Board of Supervisors, despite verbal and written objections from PPOA members and legal counsel, enacted an ordinance that, in essence, stripped the Sheriff of his disciplinary authority over LASD personnel who have not complied with the County's Vaccination Policy. The ordinance was to take effect immediately, thus subjecting PPOA members to being issued notices of discipline, up to termination, the day after the ordinance was passed.

In order to stop the immediate implementation of this ordinance, attorneys for PPOA went to court on April 6th and filed for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and for an Order to Show Cause regarding a preliminary injunction. (For details, click here to read the email PPOA sent to members on Wednesday about the Supervisors' vote and the TRO.) The County filed an Opposition to the TRO and the matter was heard in LA County Superior Court on April 7th.

During the oral argument in this matter, PPOA’s attorneys argued that the ordinance would result in imminent harm to its members since the language contained in the ordinance noted that it would be effective immediately, subjecting PPOA members to immediate discipline leading up to termination if they did not have proof of vaccination and/or a valid religious or medical exemption. (For details, click here to read the email sent to members on Thursday about the hearing.)
LASD Annual Retiree Roundup
April 3-6: The sheer size and scale of the annual LASD Retiree Roundup in Laughlin always makes it feel like a special occasion and the 4-day event this week was even more meaningful as it arrived on the heels of a two-year Pandemic-induced hiatus. The smiles were wider, the embraces were tighter and all in attendance (1,000+) seemed to be intentional about making up for lost time. We are grateful to Moon and Robyn Mullen and their remarkable team for coordinating another memorable Roundup. And special thanks to everyone who joined us poolside for PPOA's 3rd Annual Cigar Night on Tuesday. PPOA representatives at the Roundup included President Tab Rhodes, Board Member Jim Schallert, Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr. and staff.

Unions United Meeting with County Supervisor Field Deputy
April 5: PPOA 1st Vice President Nancy Escobedo attended a Unions United meeting at ALADS on Tuesday. The labor leaders were joined by the Field Deputy for County Supervisor Janice Hahn for discussions about the selfless commitment of County employees during the pandemic, the expectation of an adequate salary contract to offset skyrocketing inflation, the potential for a strike by County workers and more.
Meeting to Discuss COVID-19 Legal Issues
April 5: PPOA representatives hosted their weekly teleconference on Tuesday to continue discussions about COVID-19 and its impact on PPOA members.

Meeting participants from PPOA included President Rhodes, Executive Director Quint, Senior Labor Rep. Venise Wallace, Labor Rep. Teresa O'Neil, Intake Rep. Kevin Thompson and PPOA legal counsel.
Unit 621 Negotiations Team Meeting
April 6: Members of the Unit 621 Salary Contract Negotiations Team gathered at the PPOA office on Tuesday for the latest in a series of strategy sessions ahead of upcoming contract talks with the County. Unit 621 is the official bargaining unit for the following LASD classifications: Custody Assistant, Civilian Investigator, Crime Analyst, Public Response Dispatcher, Court Services Specialist, Law Enforcement Technician, Security Assistant, Security Officer.

Unit 621 is scheduled to officially open contract talks with County representatives on April 20, 2022.

The 621 Negotiations team is comprised of the following PPOA members:

  • 2nd V.P./Custody Assistant Tony Coleman (621 Negotiations Chair)
  • Board Member/Law Enforcement Technician Jim Blankenship
  • Board Member/Security Officer Gerry Garcia
  • Security Officer Angel Becerra
  • Civilian Investigator Ben Garcia
  • Custody Assistant Cynthia Murphy
  • Court Services Specialist Jesus Peralta
  • Public Response Dispatcher II Mike Salazar
  • Crime Analyst Joe Walker

Participants in this week's meeting also included President Rhodes, Executive Director Quint, Sr. Labor Rep. Wallace and PPOA Legal Counsel.
Sheriff Discusses Current Issues
April 6: Sheriff Villanueva hosted a Facebook live stream on Wednesday to discuss current issues, including the consequences of defunding the Sheriff's Department, dealing with the LA Times, hiring Custody Assistants and more.
 
Unit 612 Negotiations Team Meeting
April 7: The PPOA Unit 612 Salary Contract Negotiations Team met for an internal meeting to continue discussing the current state of contract negotiations as well as developing a strategy for the next bargaining session with the County. The current contract for Sergeants and Lieutenants from the Sheriff's Department and District Attorney's Office expired on January 31, 2022. To date, both parties have held eight rounds of negotiations. The PPOA Unit 612 team and County executives will return to the bargaining table on April 14th.
Peace Officer Memorial Golf Tournament Planning Committee
April 7: PPOA staff hosted a planning committee meeting for the upcoming 14th Annual Peace Officer Memorial Golf Tournament. The tournament at the exclusive Braemar Country Club on June 6th marks a return to action following a 2-year postponement due to COVID-19. The annual event is the Star & Shield Foundation's most significant fundraiser and is instrumental in the Foundation's mission to support the families of fallen officers.

Special thanks to retired PPOA members Tim Coomes and Carlos Marquez for their participation in the meeting and volunteering to serve on the tournament planning committee.

If you know of golfers and/or sponsors who may be interested in the tournament, please ask them to contact PPOA at (323) 261-3010. For details, click here to view the tournament flyer.
Recall D.A. Gascón Update
April 8: President Rhodes and Executive Director Quint took part in a teleconference yesterday with the committee to Recall LA County DA George Gascón for a discussion about the latest update on the campaign. As of April 1st, more than 200,000 signatures had been collected, putting the campaign on track to get the recall on the ballot in November. To do so, a total of 566,857 signatures (10 percent of LA County registered voters) must be submitted to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s Office by July 6.

WHY THE RECALL IS CRUCIAL
Crime is skyrocketing in LA County due to Gascón's soft-on-crime approach. His "special directives" and policy changes include no longer seeking death sentences and abandoning sentencing enhancements. This reckless social experiment to overhaul the County's criminal justice system has even drawn fire and legal challenges from Gascón's own prosecutors. 

Enough is enough — residents and public safety employees need and deserve a prosecutor who enforces the laws, protects the public and honors victims' rights.

HOW YOU CAN HELP RIGHT NOW
If you are registered to vote in Los Angeles County, PPOA strongly encourages you to sign the petition today to recall Gascón. To do so, visit RecallDAGeorgeGascon.com.
PPOA Hospitality Suite for Baker-to-Vegas
PPOA members: please join us tomorrow in our Hospitality Suite at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

PPOA Hospitality Suite
Sunday, April 10, 2022
1:30 PM
Rio Hotel & Casino
3700 W. Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas
FREE for all PPOA Members
Room number TBA in an email to members later today.

Please contact PPOA with any questions: info@ppoa.com / (323) 261-3010
PPOA 2022 Scholarship Applications Available Online
PPOA is once again proud to offer college scholarships to help further the education of PPOA members and their sons/daughters. Since the inception of this scholarship program, PPOA has been honored to contribute approximately $100,000 toward the educational goals of our members and dependents. Eligibility is limited to active, full dues-paying PPOA members and the biological children, stepchildren or adopted children of active full dues-paying PPOA members or retired PPOA members who were paying full dues prior to retired membership. Application deadline is May 13, 2022 at 5:00 pm.

Visit PPOA.COM for applications and details.
Raffle Tickets Available for 6 Ft. Tall Gun Safe
PPOA will be raffling off an impressive 6-foot tall Liberty gun safe and all proceeds will benefit the Star & Shield Foundation. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Peace Officer Memorial Golf Tournament on June 6th. Winner need not be present.

To purchase tickets, please call PPOA at (323) 261-3010.
Fraternal Order of Police
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, which represents public safety organizations throughout LA County and operates under the capable leadership of former PPOA President Roger Mayberry. Click here to read the latest weekly news update from the California FOP.

Please make it a point to check out the 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. 


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