PPOA Board Member
Security Officer, LASD
ggarcia@ppoa.com
Greetings, co-workers. How time flies — we are into October, and the year has flown by. By the time you read this article, you should have received your next pay raise, which was secured during contract negotiations. That increase of 3.25% will come into effect on October 1 and should be seen on your October 30 paycheck.
Also, when you start making your health care decisions, make sure you read about the plans and rates in detail. Also, ensure that any life events are taken care of and get your confirmation of the changes. Speaking of family and life events, I have made it a point in the last few years to encourage fellow PPOA members to think about their “in-case-of-emergency” decisions. For example, if you get injured or become sick and cannot make decisions, what is your plan? Those are just two examples. I would never want any of you to be ill-prepared for emergencies. Have a plan of action with your decisions in writing.
For those of you who contribute to Horizons, it’s good to check on it and see how it grows in the future. For those who don’t contribute, ask your co-workers to provide their input on Horizons. Some of you may have been hired many moons ago and don’t remember what you signed up for. Others weren’t sure what all those documents were. But it’s never too late to help each other.
As the weather starts changing, we should start prepping for the holidays. Family get-togethers and holiday functions often include adult beverages, so please make it a point to have a designated driver or pre-plan for a ride home. I would hate for any of us to be a statistic on the Department news about incidents.
If you’re wondering why I am talking about this, it is because there are times we all need to slow down and prioritize our well-being. In the last few months, our Department and numerous agencies across the state have encountered tragedies. It’s never the wrong time to address these important topics.
In the last few months, we have dealt with shortages and drafting personnel. PPOA is aware, and we will address those issues with Department representatives. I know some bureaus are exhausted, and some welcome the new academies for the extra personnel. However, we are still short-handed, and I will not stop requesting more academies. I also don’t want to lose any of the Department contracts due to personnel shortages.
I am still waiting for many of you to go to Logistics to exchange your older vest for the newer one. Those are negotiated items for our personnel. In addition, many of you have expressed interest in changing from the older Beretta to the Smith and Wesson 2.0. The Department is aware and should start sending out emails to those interested in the change sometime after March 2024. More information to come on this topic.
The uniform topic is important, and the Department has been in conversations about this. As I get more information, I will share it. Stay tuned.
Make sure to look after each other. Even though we may wear different uniforms, it’s very important to remember that the uniform is a mere part of who you are. We are all adults and should look out for each other. We all play an important role in this Department and should be treated accordingly.
Stay safe and look out for each other. If you have topics I can bring to the table or share with our co-workers, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.