PPOA Executive Director
wquint@ppoa.com
On January 6, PPOA and the LASD were shocked and saddened by the unexpected passing of Custody Assistant Felipe “Flip” Leal. Flip joined the Sheriff’s Department at the age of 19 and for nearly 22 years worked as a C/A, spending 18 years at Norwalk Station before his assignment to Crescenta Valley Station.
Flip was a true public safety professional who was proud to be a C/A! He was a longtime PPOA delegate who never wavered from his dedication and commitment to furthering the professional and personal interests of his fellow C/As, who are underappreciated, undercompensated and often ignored despite the incredible contribution they make to ensure safety in our custody facilities, station jails and courts. Flip was respected and loved by so many; his infectious and unique personality coupled with his work ethic made him a very special custody assistant, Sheriff’s Department employee and human being. He will be sorely missed.
Flip is survived by his wife Rebecca. Without exception, anyone who knew Flip knew how deeply he loved, cherished and admired his wife. I encourage you to keep the Leal family in your thoughts and prayers.
PPOA Sponsors Bill To Dedicate Portion Of Freeway In Memory Of Fallen Deputy
On August 13, 2019, Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) No. 67 was introduced by California State Senator Bob Archuleta (32nd District). PPOA is the sponsor of SCR 67, which would designate a portion of Interstate 605 between Alondra Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue in the County of Los Angeles as the Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Jack Williams Memorial Highway.
Deputy Jack D. Williams (badge #3585), who was a member of PPOA, was shot and killed in the line of duty on Tuesday, May 29, 1979, in the city of La Puente when he was attempting to serve a narco search warrant on a drug trafficker. Deputy Williams and Deputy Bobby Esquivel heroically volunteered to take the front door entry in serving the search warrant. The suspect fired a shotgun that killed Deputy Williams, who was only 35. Deputy Esquivel shot the suspect three times, but the suspect survived and is still appealing his death penalty sentence.
On January 14, 2020, SCR 67 passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee on a vote of 9-0. SCR 67 will move to the Assembly for concurrence. The Department of Transportation will determine the cost of the appropriate signs, and PPOA is honored to cover all costs associated with erecting the memorial signs for our fallen hero, Deputy Jack Williams. As soon as SCR 67 is legislatively secured (hopefully in February), PPOA will coordinate with the Department to dedicate the freeway signs honoring Deputy Williams on the 41st anniversary of his end of watch, Friday, May 29. PPOA will continue to update you as more information becomes available.
The California Legislature returned to the State Capitol on January 7 and resumed the second half of the two-year legislative session. The California State Legislature is made up of two houses: the Senate and the Assembly. There are 40 Senators and 80 Assembly members representing the people of the State of California. There were more than 3,000 bills introduced in the Assembly and Senate during the first half (2019) of this legislative session. Any of these bills that are remaining are referred to as two-year bills and must pass from their house of origin by the end of January or they will automatically die. Additionally, the Legislature will introduce new bills for 2020, which PPOA and our new Sacramento-based lobbying firm Lang, Hansen, O’Malley & Miller will review and evaluate once details of proposed legislative bills become available.
Fraternal Order Of Police Delivers Statewide And National Impact For Law Enforcement
Each of our active PPOA members are also proud members of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Los Angeles County Lodge 1. Our local lodge is also one of 30 lodges across California representing 17,000 members who belong to the California FOP. Former PPOA president and retired LASD Lieutenant Roger Mayberry is the president of the California FOP and has led the state lodge as its president for nearly two decades.
On January 22, our National FOP President Patrick Yoes attended a ceremony at the U.S. Department of Justice, which saw three active FOP members sworn in as commissioners who will serve on the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice. The commission was established by executive order in October 2019. The chair of the 18-member panel is the director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) and a former president of the FOP lodge in Knoxville, Tennessee. The commission will research “important current issues facing law enforcement and the criminal justice system” in an effort to improve policing and the administration of justice. William P. Barr, attorney general of the United States, delivered remarks at the ceremony and publicly thanked National President Yoes and FOP Executive Director Jim Pasco for their help and the important role the FOP played in developing the commission. Following the conclusion of the swearing in, the commissioners heard presentations on officer wellness and social problems impacting public safety.
Finally, and very importantly, please remember to vote on Tuesday, March 3!