PPOA Board Member
Security Officer, LASD
ggarcia@ppoa.com
Hello, fellow PPOA members, and thank you for reading this article. I would like to start with a special shout-out to the personnel who attended the Baker to Vegas event last month, whether you participated as a runner or with a support team. It was a great turnout. I also can’t and won’t forget those of you who stayed behind to work an extra shift or provide coverage on your day off. This is what it’s all about — teamwork. Thank you.
For those of you who have been close to or have maxed out your saved time, I am aware of the issue and have forwarded the information to contract negotiations personnel from the County. They are trying to remedy the issue as soon as possible. I expect to have an update for you in the next issue of Star & Shield.
As I write this article, we should be welcoming new personnel to our classification. A new Sheriff’s Security Officer class is scheduled for graduation, so relief is on its way. It is worth noting that this is the first SSO Academy class since March 2020. In addition, I was told by Department representatives that they are still working on numerous backgrounds and, hopefully soon, we will have another Academy class to alleviate the drafting and shortages rampant throughout the Department.
Personnel at County Services Bureau: We (PPOA) are conducting meet and confers with Employee Relations and personnel from your Bureau regarding the Probation contract. As I get more information, I will pass it along in this column.
In the last couple of weeks, some of you provided input on items needed by our classification and things you would like to occur. PPOA has met with Department personnel, and we have started a dialogue on issues including uniforms and weapon updates. Naturally, there are more topics to address as well, and we will tackle those in the near future.
To those of you who have retired or promoted, I extend my congratulations to you. Please be sure to keep in touch with your co-workers and friends you’ve made throughout your assignments. Encouragement is valuable, especially for the young generation of personnel following in your footsteps.
As you know, time flies in this career and sometimes we experience life changes. Births, deaths and divorce change family structure, so make sure to keep your beneficiary information updated with PPOA, the Department and your own will or living trust. Don’t think the worst, just always be prepared.
As we start the summer, a rise in incidents at the colleges, County facilities, parks and courthouses may be inevitable. Make sure you’re up to date with your gear. Practice with the tools given and discuss scenarios with your co-workers.
Lastly, I want to thank you for responding to these articles and following up with questions, comments and concerns. I appreciate the dialogue.
Be safe and take care of each other.
