PPOA Week in Review: Oct. 14, 2023

SSO BRANDEN COLBERT

EOW: 10/7/23

October 7: PPOA was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Security Officer Branden Colbert. A 14-year veteran of the Department, he was assigned to the Parks Bureau and is survived by his mother and sister.

Information about memorial services will be shared with PPOA members as soon as it becomes available.

LADA SERGEANT EMILIO GUERRERO

EOW: 10/8/23

October 8: Our heartfelt condolences to the Guerrero family. Sergeant Guerrero began his law enforcement career in 1994 as a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy graduating from Class 286. In 2006, he joined the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation, where he served with distinction and commitment for 17 years.

Information about memorial services will be shared with PPOA members as soon as it becomes available.

Meet and Confer re: Employee Groups

October 10: PPOA took part in a Meet and Confer with the Undersheriff, 2 Assistant Sheriff's, the Director of the Office of Constitutional Policing, County Counsel and representatives from the Bureau of Labor Relations to discuss proposed manual revisions to the LASD Employee Groups which Violate Rights of Other Employees or Members of the Public. Meeting participants from PPOA included President Nancy Escobedo, Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr. and union legal counsel.

Another Meet and Confer will be scheduled.

Meet and Confer re: LASD Lieutenant Exam

October 10: PPOA concluded the Meet and Confer process with representatives from the Bureau of Labor Relations and Compliance and Sworn Exams Unit to finalize the LASD Lieutenant Exam. Meeting participants from PPOA included President Nancy Escobedo, Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr., and union legal counsel.

Meet and Confer re: Medical Examiner Administrative Assignments

October 10: Representatives from PPOA and the Department of Medical Examiner Operations Bureau took part in a second Meet and Confer regarding administrative assignments. Meeting participants from PPOA included Executive Board Member Joyce Kato, Executive Director Wayne Quint Jr., Labor Representative Dave Ladjevic, and Intake Representative Kevin Thompson.

PPOA Board of Directors Meeting

October 11: The monthly PPOA Board of Directors meeting was hosted in San Dimas on Wednesday. Directors in attendance included President Nancy Escobedo, 1st Vice President Jay Chapman, 2nd Vice President Tony Coleman, Secretary Christopher Lee, Treasurer Joyce Kato, and Board Members Juan Carlos Calderon, Gerry Garcia, Roel Garcia, Jose Salgado, Jim Schallert, and Joe Walker.

Sheriff Security Officer Orientation

October 12: PPOA was proud to welcome 23 newly-hired Sheriff's Security Officers (SSO) during their first day of orientation in Whittier. This class is welcome news for the classification.

Participants from PPOA at the orientation included Board Member/SSO Gerry Garcia, President Escobedo, Executive Director Wayne J. Quint and staff.

Event Planning Meeting for District Attorney Candidate Forum

October 12: PPOA President Nancy Escobedo participated in an event planning meeting with ALADS, the LA Police Protective League (LAPPL), the Association of Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA), Long Beach POA (LBPOA), and the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) to discuss the upcoming forum and debate for candidates running for Los Angeles County District Attorney. An invitation to the October 18th event was emailed to active PPOA members on Monday. Event will be livestreamed and information will be provided on the day of the event.

Open Enrollment/Premium Rate Increase Reminder

Attention active PPOA members:

As most of you are aware, medical and dental premiums for 2024 are increasing nationwide and Los Angeles County is no exception. In fact, the new 2024 medical plan rates for County employees will be subject to an average increase of 10.4% more than the 2023 rates.

The new rates negotiated between County representatives and insurance carriers will take effect January 1, 2024. It is important for members to take these increases into consideration as open enrollment runs through October 31, 2023.

According to a letter sent from the LA County CEO to the Board of Supervisors on 9/12/23, insurance carriers have determined that health plan increases "are anticipated to be required to address projected price inflation, technology advances, plan utilization patters, and cost shifting from public to commercial payers."

For more details, click here to read the email sent to active PPOA members last month.

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 2023. To do so, please send an email to the FOP Lodge 1 Secretary: wmwestermann@sbcglobal.net. Be sure to include your full name and advise you are a retired PPOA member requesting membership with FOP.

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.