PPOA Week in Review - March 23, 2024

Court Rules in Favor of PPOA re: Preliminary Injunction Against OIG, LASD and LA County

PPOA members may recall that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a subpoena directly to Sheriff Luna in December 2023 seeking the production of records of all Department members, including many PPOA members, who exercised their constitutional right to refuse to talk to ICIB investigators from the Sheriff’s Department.

We are pleased to report that two months after PPOA filed a Petition for a Writ of Mandate and a Complaint for Declaratory Relief together with an Application for a Temporary Restraining Order to Show Cause regarding a Preliminary Injunction to stop the production of documents, the Superior Court judge ruled in favor of PPOA on March 18, 2024. The OIG, the County, and the Sheriff's Department are enjoined from releasing any PPOA members’ files to the OIG without engaging in the requisite meet and confer with PPOA.

For more details, click here to read the email sent to PPOA members on 03/20/24.

Support for PPOA Family Dealing with Tragic Loss

Civilian Investigator/PPOA Delegate Ben Garcia (LASD Major Crimes Bureau) and Oralia “Rae” Garcia (Retired - LA County DA’s Office) tragically lost their 28-year-old son, Jacob Anthony Garcia, as a result of a massive seizure on March 10, 2024. Although we cannot begin to imagine the immense pain, heartache, and devastation the Garcia family has endured, we would like to offer them some relief with this unforeseen financial burden. As such, we kindly ask for your consideration with making a donation, of any size, to assist the Garcias with the funeral service and medical expenses.

If you are unable to contribute financially, forwarding this link https://gofund.me/0660690a or QR code to others would be greatly appreciated.

Star & Shield Foundation Board of Directors Meeting

March 20: The monthly Board of Directors meeting for the Star & Shield Foundation was hosted on Wednesday. The Foundation was established by PPOA members in 2001 and has proudly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy organizations and charitable causes — including its most important mission to provide ongoing support for families of fallen officers.

Meeting participants included Foundation Directors Steve Johnson, Jay Chapman, Tony Coleman, Joyce Kato, and Members-at-Large Kevin Thompson and Margarita Turpen, as well as Gold Lee (from the firm of Lewis, Marenstein, Wicke, Sherwin and Lee) and Julie Sherman (from the firm of Straussner, Sherman, Lonne, Treger, and Helquist) who attended as guests.

Professional Peace Officers Insurance Agency Meeting

March 20: The Professional Peace Officers Insurance Agency (PPOIA) Board of Directors meeting took place on Wednesday. Board participants included PPOIA President/Sr. Criminalist Christopher Lee, Vice President/Sergeant Jose Rios, Secretary/Custody Assistant Cynthia Murphy, Treasurer/Senior Criminalist Ryan Forte, Lieutenant Steve Johnson, and Captain Roel Garcia. PPOIA Directors are responsible for overseeing insurance products for members and establishing best business practices for the insurance agency.

California Contract Cities Association Meeting

March 20: PPOA President Steve Johnson and Executive Board Member Joyce Kato joined fellow representatives of the California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) for a meeting on Wednesday. This event afforded PPOA with the opportunity to meet with numerous LASD Contract Cities officials.

The CCCA represents 80 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.

Coalition of County Unions Meeting

March 20: PPOA Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr. joined fellow Los Angeles County labor leaders for the monthly Coalition of County Unions (CCU) meeting to discuss the ongoing challenges and issues impacting County employees.

The CCU represents 15 labor organizations with more than 30,000 union members employed by the County of Los Angeles and is their unified voice on health insurance, vacation pay, retirement and more.

Click here for more information about the CCU.

POPA Federal Credit Union Annual Membership Meeting

March 20: POPA Federal Credit Union (POPAFCU) members gathered in Cerritos for the Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday evening. POPA executives, including President/CEO Ray Bartus (at podium in photo) were proud to report the credit union has grown to more than 20,000 members with assets exceeding $367 million. PPOA Staff Member Greg Torres attended the meeting on behalf of this Association.

POPAFCU was established by PPOA members in 1978 to provide not-for-profit financial products and services for fellow PPOA members and their families.

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 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 2024. 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.