Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers AssociationLos Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association

Greg Torres

COVID Admin. Investigations & Testing

by

HELLO SHERIFF: PPOA MEMBERS MATTER…
SHERIFF CONTINUES TO STOMP ON NEGOTIATIONS RIGHTS

On January 18, 2022 at 8:59AM, PPOA was advised by the Department, “There are still several Department members that have failed to register their vaccination status in either the Fulgent database or the Department’s database.” 
 
Didn’t you, Sheriff Villanueva, direct Department members not to utilize Fulgent-related products?
 
The Department notification continued, “This has become problematic to the Department’s ability to properly and efficiently deploy personnel and adhere to contracts with County, State, and Federal entities. Starting today, the Department will move forward with initiating administrative investigations for those Department members who have not registered.” 
 
Is Sheriff Villanueva now enforcing the County mandate? 
 
Again, the information contained in this notification confuses previous Department direction, contradicts the Sheriff’s VERY public comments about not enforcing the COVID-19 mandate, creates many more questions, and undermines any continuity of direction to PPOA members from the Sheriff.  
 
Didn’t you, Sheriff Villanueva, say that you were not enforcing the County COVID-19 vaccination mandate?
 
While still awaiting any communication from Sheriff Villanueva from last Friday’s request to discuss the COVID-19 testing requirements implemented without the required Meet and Confer, the above email was delivered on Tuesday morning following a three-day weekend, in less than eight (8) business hours. PPOA President Tab Rhodes, having not receiving any response from the Sheriff on Friday afternoon or over the weekend, reached out to Undersheriff Murakami at 9:45AM. President Rhodes briefed Mr. Murakami of PPOA’s concerns, the confusion in Department direction, and the obvious contradictions within these two recent notifications. Mr. Murakami stated he would “check into it.” As of the distribution of this email, no response has been received by PPOA from the Sheriff or Undersheriff.
 
As PPOA is in a continued Meet and Confer process with the Department regarding COVID-19 policies, a cease and desist of the distribution of this email and accompanying new policy has been demanded pending completion of our negotiations. Additionally, due to the continued total disregard for legally required Meet and Confer, and ongoing disrespect to the labor relations process, PPOA has initiated the filing of numerous Unfair Labor Practice charges against the Department with the Employee Relations Commission.
 
Impacts to PPOA members:
 
Directly, it is now obvious that some of our members will now be in need of our administrative and legal resources while trying to navigate the vague and contradictory direction of the Department related to the COVID-19 registration, COVID-19 vaccination mandate, and/or testing requirements.
 
Indirectly, PPOA members, both sworn and non-sworn are just plain CONFUSED. Non-sworn members are trying to understand the direction given to them by sworn PPOA member supervisors who are unable to obtain clarifying answers to the direction given from Department management.
 
And during this confusion, PPOA’s continued efforts to help our members through outreach as well as our attempts to collaborate, face silence.
 
SHERIFF VILLANUEVA, where are all of your promises of supporting employees now? PPOA members deserve answers which the organization cannot provide if your Department does not participate in the labor relations process. What is the difference between your unilateral actions and requirements without Meet and Confer, versus the action of the Board of Supervisors in implementing the County’s COVID-19 Executive Order?
 
Should PPOA be contacted to meet on these issues, further information will be communicated to members. Until then, rest assured that PPOA will continue to object to any adverse action taken against our membership or organization, utilizing all available resources.

 

Vaccine Mandate: Sheriff Continues to Stomp on Negotiation Rights

by

Jan. 14, 2022 — Today at 1:45 PM, PPOA was advised, “some of your members who have not provided proof of full vaccination will be receiving the attached message later today.” 
 
“You are receiving this email because you have been identified as a Department member that has not provided proof of full vaccination. The County policy requires proof of full vaccination, or submit to weekly testing.” PPOA was informed the distribution of this message was directed by Sheriff Villanueva.
 
Didn’t you, Sheriff Villanueva, say that you were not enforcing the County COVID-19 vaccination mandate?
 
Upon receiving this information, PPOA immediately and vehemently objected, verbally to Employee Relations and followed up in writing from our legal staff. Over our objection, starting at 2:08PM, members began contacting PPOA having received this Department message.
 
Is Sheriff Villanueva now enforcing the County mandate? When did this happen?
 
This ask of members, without a lawfully required Meet and Confer, and notification coming on Friday afternoon going into a three-day weekend as well as starting on a County holiday is UNREASONABLE to say the least.
 
The information contained in this notification contradicts previous Department direction and appears to misrepresent County policy, creates many more questions, and undermines any continuity of direction to members from the Sheriff.  
 
Who are the vendors behind these various testing sites? Are they Fulgent testing sites? 
 
Didn’t you, Sheriff Villanueva, direct Department members not to utilize Fulgent-related products?
 
As PPOA is in a continued Meet and Confer process with the Department regarding COVID-19 policies, a cease and desist of the distribution of this email and accompanying new policy has been demanded pending completion of our negotiations.
 
Attempts by PPOA to directly contact Sheriff Villanueva for assistance and/or consideration received no response.

Retired LASD Chief Hired to Lead Alhambra PD

by

https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2021/12/14/alhambra-city-council-unanimously-approves-contract-for-new-police-chief-kelley-fraser/

Support for approval on a contract for Kelley Fraser to become the next Chief of the Alhambra Police Department was overwhelmingly positive at Monday night’s Alhambra City Council meeting.

Council members Sasha Renee Perez, Ross Maza and Adele Andrade-Stadler all voted to confirm the contract that will come at an annual salary of $233,343.84, as did Vice Mayor Jeffrey Maloney and Mayor Katherine Lee for a 5-0 vote.

Fraser will officially become Chief on Dec. 27, a week after outgoing Chief Eric Parra is sworn in as the new Chief in Huntington Beach, where he has resided since 1993.

Perez couldn’t say enough about the appointment of Fraser, who was Assistant Chief for Alhambra PD from October 2019 through this past September before retiring. She was asked by Parra to consider coming back to be Chief.

“It’s been great just getting to know Chief Fraser better,” Perez said. “She’s fantastic. I know we were all a little sad to lose Chief Parra, but I think she’s going to be an excellent leader within our police department.

“It’s also wonderful to know that they’ve worked so closely together and I think that they share a lot of the same kind of values and vision around community policing, which is certainly a priority for me and I know a priority for the community.”

Fraser will be just the second female police chief in the San Gabriel Valley along with Monterey Park’s Kelly Gordon. Fraser will also be the first permanent female police chief in the 118-year history of Alhambra PD.

This is not lost on Perez.

“I also did see on the news that she is going to be only the second female police chief in the entire San Gabriel Valley, so I do think that’s pretty cool that we’ll also be making some history with this in these positions that are usually held by men; it’s certainly nice to see a woman in leadership,” Perez said.

Parra was also named Assistant Chief in October 2019 before being made chief this past March. He and Fraser previously worked together while at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept.

Maloney said the city is fortunate to have someone the caliber of Fraser step into this role.

“I think you want to express appreciation for Chief Parra for thinking about this and considering what position he’d be leaving the city in,” Maloney said. “I don’t begrudge him moving to take the reins of his hometown; I totally understand that.

“But I do appreciate the fact that he’s able to help fill the void that was created by his departure with somebody that he’s obviously got a lot of confidence in, that he’s worked with for a long time both in Alhambra and at the Sheriff’s Department, so we’re pretty fortunate.”

Chief Fraser this past week talked about her excitement upon learning she was wanted as the next chief.

“Immediately you’re humbled and you automatically go to, it’s heavy shoes to fill behind Chief Parra because I know what he’s done here; I’ve worked with him and for him in my career,” she said. “And now to be offered that type of opportunity, let’s just say it was overwhelming, but (I’m) completely excited and looking forward to this great opportunity as well.”