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

Greg Torres

PPOA President Addresses County Supervisors’ Vote to Move Forward with Closure of Men’s Central Jail

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This afternoon, Los Angeles County Supervisors voted 4-0 to initiate a plan to close Men’s Central Jail within the year. PPOA President Tab Rhodes addressed the Supervisors during the public comment session and urged them to consult with PPOA and our public safety counterparts while thoroughly assessing the complexity of this undertaking.
 
“My name is Tab Rhodes, I am President of the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers’ Association representing 9,200 County family members. I have worked Men’s Central Jail and in Custody Division throughout my career and I can attest to you that this jail is far from optimum for the health and safety of the inmates OR ANY county employees. However, as I have discussed with each of you individually, the need for a jail facility in the downtown area is a key factor in the local criminal justice system and a benefit to the citizens of the community. MCJ is needed at this point to provide wrap-around services of rehabilitation not currently available at other remote jail facilities of the county, ease of visits for community members to visit their incarcerated loved ones, specific housing for high security concerns, and centralized access to the downtown courts. Should Men’s Central Jail be considered for closure, collaborative and constructive conversation with willing public safety members such as PPOA would be appreciated to ensure the safety of our community and the families of Los Angeles County.”
 
Despite an overwhelming majority of public comments expressing concern and frustration about the planned closure, the Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of the proposal co-authored by Supervisors Hilda Solis and Sheila Kuehl directing an existing task force to map out what would be required to close Men’s Central Jail within the year.
 
Click here to read more about today’s vote to move ahead with the closure:
https://mynewsla.com/crime/2020/07/07/shutting-down-downtown-mens-central-jail-dungeon-may-close-in-12-months-after-la-county-supervisors-vote/

Anticipated Budget Curtailments — Potential Need for Job Fair

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The COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused havoc in the world with health problems and restrictions on personal liberties, but now, most significantly on the financial impact to our County. During press briefings in May, Sheriff Villanueva alluded to this budgetary crisis, creating great controversy by suggesting the need to close Marina Del Rey and Altadena stations as well as other units within the Department. PPOA, upon hearing this information and the domino effect on our members, filed a Cease and Desist, demanding a required meet and confer. 
 
On June 9, 2020, PPOA and ALADS met with Department representatives to discuss the Department’s concept of increasing the Cadre of Relief Personnel (CARP) program and the reintroduction of Temporary Overtime Reduction Assignment (TORA) process, to address anticipated budget shortfalls in the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 20-21. At that time, PPOA requested and will continue to demand specific information and implementation plans, which we have not yet received.   
 
Additionally, the Department has notified PPOA of an anticipated need for a Department-Wide Job Fair due to the expected curtailments. Again, PPOA has requested specific information and implementation plans, with only limited information provided thus far. According to the Department, they are not currently prepared to provide curtailment requirements, nor deliver a list of affected members, as the final numbers for the FY 20-21 will not be released to the Department until June 29, 2020. 
 
Upon receiving this information, the Department will need time to plan for the necessary cutbacks to the budget, identify units affected, and finalize the list of impacted members to be reassigned because of curtailments. At this time, the Department is expressing a desire to conduct a Job Fair on July 7 and 8. PPOA has already objected to these tentative dates realizing the massive undertaking of a Job Fair based on previous experience and past practice. PPOA also requested that the Department immediately announce a freeze to all promotions and movement to provide an accurate list of vacancies to the anticipated Job Fair.
 
On Monday, June 29, 2020, the Board of Supervisors will be conducting a special meeting related to the 2020-21 Recommended Budget for the County of Los Angeles. The Sheriff’s Department is expected to face up to $162 million in proposed budget cuts forcing significant curtailments. As of today, PPOA has not been provided any additional information regarding impacted members, positions, work locations, seniority lists or other pertinent information.  
 
PPOA realizes that many of you will be understandably stressed regarding how the budget crisis will impact your career and future. PPOA is committed to and will demand a fair and equitable process regarding curtailments and will continue to work to ensure that no PPOA members are laid off during this unprecedented time.
 

CONTRACT CUTBACKS Security Officers and L.E.T.s to be Reassigned

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Yesterday, 06/22/2020, at 1535 Hours, PPOA received email notification from LASD Employee Relations that DHS has elected not to renew the Sheriff Department’s personnel that manages the LAC+USC Medical Center Dispatch Center, and provides public safety to the hospital. The contract ends on June 30, 2020, and will have an impact on six (6) Security Officers and five (5) Law Enforcement Technicians. 
 
PPOA immediately requested a meet and confer, attended by Director Jody Clounch, Vice-President Jim Blankenship, President Rhodes, Executive Director Quint, and PPOA Senior Labor Representative Venice Wallace, to gather information and to ensure our members’ rights are protected during this involuntary reassignment. During the meeting this afternoon (6/23/20), representatives of the Department also advised PPOA of additional anticipated contract cutbacks within County Services Bureau, which could impact as many as 30-40 Security Officers. PPOA has requested and will continue to demand specific information and implementation plans, which we have not yet received.   
 
At today’s meeting, PPOA expressed concerns, offered suggestions, and demanded our members’ rights to a fair and objective reassignment based on past practices of seniority. The Department was receptive to our issues and is taking our suggestions under advisement, with a follow-up meeting to be scheduled in the next couple of days. 
 
Both PPOA and the Department agree on one thing: to do everything possible to absorb these curtailments in such a manner as to AVOID layoffs. Those Security Officers lower in Department seniority should expect to be contacted in the near future regarding the possibility of reassignment within the Department as well as potentially being asked to work out of classification, if needed to ensure County employment. 
 
PPOA will update the membership after the next meeting with the Department.