Meeting re: Assault on Custody Assistant
May 10: PPOA representatives met with Custody Division Assistant Sheriff Corbett regarding the recent physical assault on a Custody Assistant. Participants from PPOA included President Tab Rhodes, Executive Board Member/Custody Assistant Tony Coleman and Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr.

For more information about the meeting, click here to read the email sent to PPOA members on Monday.
Legislative Coalition Meeting
May 10: President Rhodes participated in a teleconference with leaders from numerous Southern California law enforcement organizations for a discussion and strategy session regarding the voluminous slate of legislative bills introduced this year in Sacramento. This meeting was the second in a series to continue throughout the legislative session. For those monitoring, Senate Bill 2 (SB2, Bradford) is by far the highest priority of all law enforcement organizations. Under SB2, the state would create an advisory board consisting of both members of the public and law enforcement to review allegations of officer misconduct. In conjunction with the existing Peace Officer Standards Accountability Advisory Board, the new board would have the power to revoke an officer’s certification and make all related records public.   
Star & Shield Foundation Meeting
May 11: Board members of the PPOA Star & Shield Foundation took part in a teleconference on Thursday and welcomed Sergeant Juan Calderon as the newest member of the Foundation's Board of Directors. Sergeant Calderon is a 13-year LASD veteran and PPOA is grateful for his willingness to help guide the Star & Shield Foundation in its mission to support those in need.
Ambushes Claim Lives of Two California Officers in 24 hours
May 11: The law enforcement community throughout California was shocked and in mourning following the tragic line-of-duty deaths of two peace officers in 24 hours.

DETECTIVE LUCA BENEDETTI - End of Watch: 5/10/21
Detective Benedetti and five fellow San Luis Obispo PD officers were serving a search warrant related to a series of late night burglaries. As the officers forced entry into an apartment, the suspect was lying in wait and immediately opened fire on them. Two officers were shot and tragically, Detective Benedetti succumbed to his injuries. The second officer was treated at the hospital and released.

Detective Benedetti joined SLOPD in 2012 after having previously served for four years with the Atascadero Police Department. He is survived by his wife and two young children.

OFFICER JIMMY INN - End of Watch: 5/11/21
Officer Inn responded to a domestic violence call in a residential neighborhood when he was ambushed and shot by a suspect in waiting. The suspect then exited the residence with an 8-year old boy and began strangling the child while refusing to comply with the commands of an additional responding officer. A community member tackled the suspect and the officer discharged his duty weapon, striking the suspect. The child survived but Officer Inn was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital.

Officer Inn was a 5-year department veteran and is survived by his wife, also a Stockton PD officer, and their three children.
PPOA Board of Directors Update
May 12: The PPOA Board meeting on Wednesday included the following leadership transitions: two new Directors were sworn in, one new Director was appointed and another Director was selected to serve as Vice President. 

President Tab Rhodes began the Board of Directors meeting by swearing in Lieutenant Nancy Escobedo and Sergeant Jose Rios to serve as Unit 612 representatives. They will fill the remainder of the respective terms vacated by the recent resignations of Captain John Satterfield and Lieutenant Ryan Vienna.

The Board then officially appointed Commander Joel Barnett to fill the unexpired term of Commander Carlos Marquez, who resigned today due to his pending retirement. Commander Barnett is scheduled to be officially sworn in at the Board meeting on June 9th.

PPOA Directors then selected Law Enforcement Technician and current Board Member Jim Blankenship to serve as Vice President -- an executive Board seat that was vacated by Lieutenant Vienna's resignation. Vice President Blankenship is PPOA's longest serving Board Member, having been elected by his fellow Unit 621 members in 1998.

Sheriff Discusses Current Events
May 12: Sheriff Alex Villanueva hosted a Facebook live stream on Wednesday to discuss current events, including complications with a state grant, the need for more Sergeants and Lieutenants, and more.
National Law Enforcement Memorial Candlelight Vigil
May 13: Families of fallen officers gathered online with law enforcement personnel and supporters for the 33rd Annual National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) Candlelight Vigil. Due to the ongoing health crisis, this was a virtual gathering yet it stayed true to the mission to honor those who died in the line of duty. The names of 394 fallen officers were engraved on the Memorial this year and 22,611 virtual candles were lit — one for every officer name on the Memorial.

Deputy Jack Williams Memorial Highway Dedication Ceremony
PPOA 21st Annual Fishing Trip
July 16, 2021
Hundreds of PPOA members have enjoyed these trips over the last 20 years and we hope you join us out on the ocean this summer! Per social distancing guidelines from LBM Sportfishing, our 85-foot boat will be limited to 36 people, so please reserve your spot as soon as possible. PPOA fishing trips sell out every year.

DETAILS

Friday, July 16, 2021

Gathering spot:
Pierpoint Landing
200 Aquarium Way, Long Beach
Please arrive no later than 5:30 am
Boat leaves promptly at 6:00 am

Destination:    
Catalina and/or local waters

Boat:
85 ft. Enterprise 
Capacity for PPOA fishing trip:
36 person capacity
All participants must have masks.

Cost:
$45 per PPOA member (1 guest $45 allowed per member)
Reservations are first come, first served. 
Call PPOA to book your spot: (323) 261-3010

Fishing license required. Purchase in advance or arrive early to purchase 1-day license. Rod/reel rental can be reserved with LBM Sportfishing: (562) 598-6649.
Coffee and lunch will be provided by PPOA.

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