Week in Review – 1/18/20
Ray Leyva Begins Tenure as County’s Interim Chief Probation Officer
Leyva brings with him more than 40 years of distinguished, results-driven leadership working in public safety. He replaces Chief Terri L. McDonald, who has served as Los Angeles County’s Chief Probation Officer for the past three years and is retiring from County service.
“The Los Angeles County Probation Department is a significant Department, one that provides excellent services with dedicated employees and I’m honored to be the Interim Chief. I look forward to continuing to build on the successes and opportunities of the Department so that we may continue to make positive impacts on the lives of those we serve and the communities we continue to help keep safe,” said Chief Leyva.
Chief Leyva most recently served as Undersheriff in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD). He began his career as a reserve officer with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1975, leaving the LAPD to work as a police officer for the Burbank Police Department in 1976. In 1981, Leyva transferred to the Sheriff’s Department, and in an over 35-year career with LASD, developed and managed critical incident management teams, established policies and procedures, as well as collaborated with unions, media and other public entities. Some of his notable assignments include serving as Captain of the Court Services West Bureau; the Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau where he was responsible for the Office of the Sheriff and all media interaction for LASD; Men’s Central Jail; and Pitchess Detention Center North and East Facilities. He was also Commander of Field Operations Region I, where he was given functional supervision over the patrol stations located in Palmdale, Lancaster, Crescenta Valley, Altadena and Temple, and North Patrol Division, covering the Santa Clarita Valley, West Hollywood, and Malibu Lost Hills.
Chief Leyva holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from California State University Los Angeles and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University, and is a former National President of the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association.
“I worked with Ray during my time at the Sheriff’s Department, and I am confident that under his leadership, this Department will continue to set the standard in our work with clients and the community,” expressed Chief McDonald. “Saying goodbye is rarely easy, but I am more than confident that I am leaving this amazing Department in capable and supportive hands.”
Chief McDonald served as the Department’s Chief Probation Officer since 2016, overseeing many progressive changes in both the juvenile and adult operations of L.A. County Probation.
Under her tenure, Chief McDonald oversaw the opening of Campus Kilpatrick, a world-class residential treatment facility based on the L.A. Model of small group, trauma-informed therapeutic care for youth in Probation facilities. Chief McDonald supported the closure of six juvenile camps and Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, thus closing a $40 million budget deficit while better-utilizing staff and operational resources. She worked tirelessly with the Governor’s Office, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, and other partners to secure a $5 million grant to move forward with the conversion of Camp Gonzales and Challenger Memorial Youth Center into residential, vocational training facilities for transitional age youth. She supported the establishment of public-private partnerships to expedite the utilization of Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funds for critical and much need programs and services for youth populations and investment in diversion programs to keep youth out of the juvenile justice system.
On the adult services side of the Probation Department, Chief McDonald shifted $180 Million toward the Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) to create and deliver services for over 11,000 adult probationers as well as partnering with ODR to expand the mental health court program that removes mentally ill inmates from the jail and provides them with intensive case management and supportive housing. She provided support for Probation’s inaugural reentry symposium which hosted over 900 participants and for the Department’s first of its kind reentry center where clients can receive services to help get them on their feet. Following the lead of the Board of Supervisors, Chief McDonald and Probation actively planned for bail reform to address the issue of equity, favoring a more individualized approach to bail and less on a person’s ability to pay.
The Los Angeles County Probation Department has over 6,100 employees serving more than 80,000 juveniles and adults who are currently on probation in the County of Los Angeles.
Deputy Befriends Homeless Community
Week in Review – 1/10/20
Year in Review
Week in Review – 12/21/19
California: Economic Forecast for New Decade
Settlement Reached in FLSA Lawsuit
Yesterday, December 19, 2019, PPOA received the information below from the Law Offices of Rains, Lucia, Stern, St. Phalle & Silver, PC. As the law firm representing a number of PPOA members in the FLSA overtime lawsuit against Los Angeles County, they are pleased to report a settlement has received preliminary approval from United States District Court Judge Dale Fischer.
If you participated in the lawsuit, you should be receiving correspondence with instructions and details on the procedures for receiving funds under the settlement.
What Is The Lawsuit About?
The lawsuit arose of the County’s non-compliance with the Ninth Circuit’s decision in Flores v. City of San Gabriel, where the court held that cash in lieu of health insurance benefits had to be included in the calculation of the FLSA’s overtime rate. In July 2018, in an attempt to head off the lawsuit, the County recalculated overtime including the cash-in-lieu and paid employees what should have been paid in the first place, but only back to January 2018. Since the FLSA has a three-year statute of limitations, the County’s payments were clearly inadequate and the lawsuit was filed.
In August 2018, after the lawsuit was filed, the County recalculated overtime again and made a second payment, this time going back to August 2015. However, the County’s payments did not include double or “liquidated” damages, usually required by the FLSA. And so, the lawsuit continued.
What Does The Settlement Provide?
The County has now agreed to pay liquidated or double damages in an amount equal to the two 2018 payments it made to employees. This means that all Plaintiffs will have received everything they were due under the FLSA, including three full years of damages plus liquidated damages.
How Do I Receive My Share Of The Settlement?
To receive the settlement, a Plaintiff needs to sign the release form that received preliminary approval from Judge Fischer. Correspondence from the law firm above will describe the easiest way to sign the release electronically. You can also print it out, sign it and return it to Jacob Kalinski at 16130 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 600, Encino, CA 91436.
What Happens Next?
Judge Fischer set a 45-day period expiring on January 27, 2020 for Plaintiffs to raise any objections they have to the settlement. Per Judge Fischer’s instructions, all objections should be sent to Plaintiffs’ lawyers, who will collect them and send them to Judge Fischer and the County. After the 45-day period, Judge Fischer will hold a hearing on final approval of the settlement. In deciding whether to approve the settlement, Judge Fischer will decide whether the settlement is fair and reasonable considering the legal issues involved and any objections to the settlement.
If The Settlement Is Approved, When Will I Be Paid And How Much Will I Receive?
The County will pay all settlement amounts no later than sixty (60) days following Judge Fischer’s approval of the settlement.
How Do The Attorneys Feel About The Settlement?
All of the attorneys representing the Plaintiffs strongly support the settlement and believe it reaches a result at least equivalent if not better than what could be achieved in court.
Will I Be Paying Any Attorney Fees?
No. The settlement requires the County to pay the attorney fees and litigation costs for the Plaintiffs’ lawyers. Employees who joined the lawsuit will pay no attorney fees or litigation costs.
Where Can I Find Out More Information About the Settlement?
On the lawsuit’s website you will find links to the Complaint filed in the case, the County’s Answer, and the motion for preliminary approval of the settlement. https://www.laovertimelawsuit.com/. The Motion, which was granted by Judge Fischer, contains a history of the case, the specific details of the settlement, and why the lawyers are supporting the settlement.
How Can I Ask Questions About The Settlement Or File Objections?
All questions about the settlement as well as any objections should be directed to Jacob Kalinski, Attorney at Law, 16130 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 600, Encino, CA 91436, (747) 221.7100.