This week, PPOA representatives tackled the standard slate of meetings, grievances and more. We also had an opportunity to discuss union issues with counterparts from public safety associations throughout the state. Those conversations included an important topic: the value of union membership.
As we head into the final weeks of the year, we want to help members understand the value of PPOA membership. Specifically, we'll look at four key issues:
- Labor Representation
- Benefits
- Discounts
- Support
This week, we'll focus on labor representation. The most important responsibility of a union is to safeguard the job and rights of each member. PPOA takes this role extremely seriously — that’s why experienced labor representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist members.
Since January 1, 2023, PPOA has received thousands of calls from members dealing with various issues. Hundreds of those calls were forwarded to PPOA labor reps and about half of those forwarded calls became cases handled by labor reps and/or PPOA attorneys. The remaining issues were resolved informally through phone calls, emails, meetings, or conflict resolution.
The numbers speak for themselves. Of the cases handled by PPOA labor reps in 2023 (to date):
- 126 were Internal Affairs investigations
- 35 were Internal Criminal investigations
- 101 were grievances
- 15 were Civil Service appeals
- 15 were demotion/termination cases
Naturally, these events can be unnerving for members. That is when experience is key. Every member of the PPOA labor representation team has more than 25 years of invaluable experience with Los Angeles County law enforcement.
Intake Representative Kevin Thompson was a dedicated LA County employee for 26 years before retiring from the Sheriff's Department in 2013. His experience as a long-time PPOA board member and contract negotiator enabled him to hit the ground running with our labor representation team. Kevin has served as the PPOA Intake Representative for 10 years and is often the first point of contact for members in need of representation.
Labor Representative Dave Ladjevic is a 33-year LASD veteran who retired as a Lieutenant in 2019. He joined the PPOA staff in February 2023 and his professional experience (including his assignment with Internal Affairs Bureau) has provided Dave with the unique insight needed to ensure that members' rights are fully protected.
Labor Representative Mark Sanchez retired from the Bell Police Department in 2018 after a 28-year career, including his tenure as president of the Bell Police Officers Association. He then spent five years honing his skills as a defense representative for ALADS before coming on board as a PPOA staff member in July 2023.
Lastly, we want to remind PPOA members to contact the union office if an issue arises at work. We can help. It's what we do for members every day.
