PPOA Week in Review - Feb. 10, 2024

PPOA's Lawsuit Against OIG Advances to Hearing in March 2024

This week, PPOA's legal counsel and President Steve Johnson appeared in front of a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge who heard PPOA’s request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop an attempt by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to get confidential records from PPOA members. By agreement, the matter will now move to a Preliminary Injunction Hearing in March 2024.

The original Writ of Mandate arises from a subpoena issued by the OIG on 12/19/2023 and served on the Sheriff of Los Angeles County on 01/02/2024, seeking confidential and protected information from PPOA members and other Sheriff's Department personnel. Specifically, the OIG is seeking the identity of LASD peace officers who exercised their constitutional right not to speak to an investigator during 2023 regarding potential criminal conduct occurring in the Department. For more information, click here to read the email PPOA sent to members last month.

To date, no PPOA member has been forced to appear in front of the OIG or produce records while this and other litigation advances through the courts and the Employee Relations Commission (ERCOM).

PPOA will continue to provide updates on the progress of this litigation.

PPOA Legislative Committee Meeting

February 6: PPOA Legislative Committee members hosted a teleconference with our Sacramento legislative representatives — Lang, Hansen, Giroux and Kidane — for the monthly discussion about legislative proposals in the current 2023-2024 session that potentially impact PPOA members and public safety employees statewide.

Meeting participants from PPOA included President Steve Johnson, 2nd Vice President Tony Coleman, Board Member Roel Garcia, Legislative Consultant Art Reddy, and Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr.

PPOA has a proven track record of impactful legislative strategies that stretches back more than 50 years and has dramatically improved the rights and benefits of generations of PPOA members.

Acknowledging the Lives of Two PPOA Centenarians

Over the last few days, PPOA received word of the passing of two longtime members of this Association who were both able to celebrate 100+ years of life. George Kachin (Marshal's Office) and Davidson Turner (Sheriff's Department) began their County service around the time PPOA was established 73 years ago and, coincidentally, both men retired in March 1978.

George Kachin

End of Watch: January 31, 2024

Marshal's Office 1954-1978

Age: 100

Davidson Turner

End of Watch: February 4, 2024

Sheriff's Department 1948-1978

U.S. Army WWII veteran

Age: 102

PPOA is working to gather more information about the service and legacies of both members and we look forward to including that in an upcoming issue of Star & Shield magazine.

Pet Insurance Now Available to PPOA Members

February 7: The Professional Peace Officers Insurance Agency is proud to announce that PPOA members now have access to MetLife pet insurance. Pets come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter what type of pet you have, the unexpected can and does happen. Luckily, with MetLife Pet Insurance, you can stay focused on their health—not the cost of treatment.

For more information, click here to read the email PPOA sent to members on Wednesday.

PPOA Members — End of Watch Tribute

We extend our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the following PPOA members who passed in December 2023:

Retired Deputy Stuart Ward — 12/10/23

LASD 1964-1983

US Navy veteran

Retired Deputy Russell Peck — 12/23/23

LASD 1963-1993

Academy Class 98

Last assignment: Wayside Jail

US Marine Corps veteran

Custody Assistant Arturo Guzman — 12/25/23

Began career with LASD in 2015

Assigned to Inmate Reception Center at time of passing

Retired Sergeant Renee Dibb — 12/27/23

LASD 1982-2011

Academy Class 214

Last assignment: North County Correctional Facility

Condolences may be emailed to the family: elrey26@verizon.net

Retired Sergeant Clinton Dillon — 12/27/23

LASD 1957-1991

Academy Class 68

Last assignment: Homicide Bureau

US Navy Reserve veteran

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 368,000 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.