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In late May of 2019, PPOA was notified by the Chief Executive Office (CEO) of the Department’s intention to revise the job specifications of Sergeant and Lieutenant, thus eliminating the Dual Track promotional process in the future. As a result, PPOA dedicated significant resources, meeting regularly with the Department, in order to collaborate and discuss Sheriff Villanueva’s ideas for the future promotional process. Sadly, information requests by PPOA went unfulfilled and communications with PPOA by the Department abruptly ceased in mid-August.

PPOA President Tab Rhodes said, “Those of us involved in this conversation with the Department have repeatedly objected to the October 5, 2019 ‘Patrol Track’ only examination, which completely abandons the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) contract language regarding Dual Track.”

Additionally, a new “Rating of Record” component has been introduced to the proposed Sergeants’ promotional criteria, which has yet to be defined, nor described as to weight or implementation.

PPOA’s concerns regarding the violations of our contract have been repeatedly communicated to Department executives, culminating in a personal discussion between Sheriff Villanueva and PPOA President Rhodes. Unfortunately, PPOA’s efforts to resolve the issue of our MOU contract language regarding Dual Track with the Department have failed.

The primary responsibility of any union is to protect the rights of our members, utilizing the legally binding verbiage of an MOU/contract. This attack on our MOU, if successful, could be a thread which could unwind other aspects of our contract. If the language is not adhered to, the entire MOU is in jeopardy and the Department can continue to make arbitrary decisions without restraint. PPOA must now seek legal action to ensure that our MOU is legally adhered to by the County, Department and Sheriff Villanueva.

On September 19, 2019, PPOA filed a complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court to “Enforce a Public Safety Labor Agreement” naming the County of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff Alex Villanueva, as respondents. Additionally, PPOA is seeking a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to suspend the upcoming Sergeants’ promotional examination scheduled for October 5, 2019. Additionally, an Order to Show Cause for Preliminary Injunction from violating the MOU between PPOA and the County was filed simultaneously.

PPOA remains optimistic for a collaborative partnership with Sheriff Villanueva and the Department, but will always defend our members’ rights and our legally binding MOU. Please continue to review our communications here and via email, Facebook, and mobile app for additional information as it becomes available.

The PPOA board meeting on April 10th was a momentous one for leadership of this union. Retiree representative Art Reddy announced his resignation from the board — a decision that did not come easy for the retired sergeant who has served as a dedicated ​board member for nearly 30 years. Nobody in PPOA’s 68-year history has committed more time as a board member. Art was first elected to the board in 1979 as a deputy. He was re-elected term after term as a deputy, then sergeant, then retired member. His institutional knowledge of PPOA is unmatched and invaluable. We are extremely grateful that Art has agreed to continue providing his input to PPOA on a number of issues to help this association continue to make a difference for active and retired personnel. Thank you Art!

Following Art’s resignation, the PPOA board appointed newly-retired Sergeant Jim Schallert to fill the remainder of Art’s term. We look forward to working with Jim to advocate on behalf of 2,500+ retired PPOA members. Thank you Jim!

Schallert’s retirement created a vacancy for the position of PPOA vice president. The board voted unanimously to swear in Lieutenant Tab Rhodes to that position. Tab has served as a PPOA board member since 2011 and looks forward to his new role on the executive board. Thank you Tab!

The PPOA board also had an opportunity to thank Chief Patrick Jordan for his years of service as a board member. Jordan resigned from the board following his recent promotion and PPOA directors gratefully presented him with a plaque at Wednesday’s board meeting to honor his commitment to fellow union members. Thank you Pat!​

PPOA is proud to continue the annual tradition of issuing reimbursements up to $100 for members who attend the 2019 California Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on May 6th in Sacramento and up to $250 for members who attend the 2019 National Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony on May 15th in Washington DC. All members are strongly encouraged to attend these worthwhile events to honor fallen officers. Reimbursement eligibility is limited to the first 20 full dues-paying, active PPOA members (per ceremony) who call PPOA to register at (800) 747-PPOA. Following the event(s), each eligible member must submit receipts for hotel and travel expenses to PPOA for reimbursement.

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Marina del Rey / February 13, 2018

The following year-end dues totals are provided to aid PPOA members with tax preparation. If you were not a PPOA member for the entire 2017 calendar year, please contact Clare at (323) 261-3010. Political contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes, and 10 percent of PPOA dues are used for political contributions.

2017 Dues Paid

On November 19th, PPOA received the devastating news that Custody Assistant Anthony Thompson Jr. was killed in a traffic collision early that morning. Thompson, son of LASD Sergeant Ottawa Cureton, was driving southbound on the 605 freeway in Irwindale at approximately 12:30AM when a woman believed to have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs drove up the southbound off-ramp and entered the freeway in the wrong direction. The woman drove into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with Thompson’s vehicle. Both drivers died at the scene and Thompson’s passenger was hospitalized with severe injuries.

“I spoke to Anthony’s mother, Ottawa, today. Needless to say, she is heartbroken,” said PPOA President Brian Moriguchi. “But she is extremely grateful for the outpouring of support from the LASD family and Anthony’s co-workers.”

Custody Assistant Anthony Thompson Jr. was assigned to Twin Towers. He was 24 years old and started his career with the Sheriff’s Department in 2012. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

PPOA legislative representatives are keeping close watch on three public employee pension cases currently before the California Supreme Court. All three cases are appeals related to the Public Employee Pension Reform Act (PEPRA), which took effect in 2013. PEPRA is already a complex law that generates many questions and these three cases could potentially affect the way retirement and health benefits are applied. Here is an update from PPOA Legislative Representative Karen Keeslar:

October 31, 2017: There are three PEPRA cases before the California Supreme Court. The Alameda case has been merged with the Marin litigation. These cases deal with the “California rule.” The CA Supreme Court has also accepted the Cal Fire case. All of these cases are still in the briefing stage and oral arguments haven’t been scheduled yet. The state has a deadline to file its brief on November 6th, although they could request another extension (there have been several) and the reply brief is due November 27th. Then amicus briefs would be due 30 days later on December 27th. Those dates can be pushed out by any extensions granted to the parties to file their briefs. The CA Supreme Court hears oral arguments from September through June. Generally speaking, the court must issue a decision within 90 days of oral arguments.

The Appellate Court decisions in all three cases contradict 70 years of case law on the “California Rule.” The CA Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed the “California Rule” protecting pensions and maintaining they are a vested right. There is broad speculation that the decisions on these cases could open the door to overturning numerous Supreme Court decisions upholding the vested rights of public employees to retirement benefits. If the Supreme Court upholds the Appellate Court ruling that pensions only need be “reasonable,” we are certain to see much more litigation for each agency to determine what is reasonable. That makes it difficult to speculate what might happen to pensions for LA County employees. PPOA will continue to monitor these cases and will keep members informed of any developments.

PPOA’s new Executive Director Wayne Quint joined the coalition of cops and prosecutors speaking on the steps of the state capitol on October 30th to advocate for a proposed initiative that would reverse specific elements of Prop 47 while adding 15 crimes to the list of violent crimes without possibility of early release.

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