Star & Shield Magazine

Poor Policy Rollouts Impact Morale

On July 19, the Department rolled out its revised force policy to personnel. This was done subsequent to a lengthy, nearly year-long meet-and-confer process that the Department engaged in with PPOA (and ALADS). Blatantly missing from this rollout was the in-depth, experiential training needed to implement this policy. Ultimately, this policy will cause our members to rethink and reexamine their use and review of force. The impact of this rollout caused confusion and concern among personnel and also negatively impacted trust. Read More

Choices Open Enrollment: Medical/Dental Premium Increases Less Than 2024

On September 10, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted the new Choices medical/dental premiums and life insurance rates for next year, beginning January 1, 2025. PPOA recently sent an email to all active members advising of the sad reality there would once again be increases to the Choices’ medical and dental insurance plans. Hopefully, all active members followed PPOA’s respectful request to thoroughly review the open enrollment packet. Read More

Working a Deputy Spot: The Blurry Line Between Policy and Reality

The question of working a “deputy spot” has generally lingered over Custody Assistants for numerous years. Department policy states, “Any position or duties normally performed by Deputy Sheriff personnel shall not be staffed by Custody Assistant personnel.” Hopefully, you have enough deputies. If not, unfortunately, you’ll have to draft one … again. These lines have become increasingly more intertwined as C/As at Towers looked for unit orders/duty statements for specific positions and could not find them. Read More

Welcoming New Members

Hello, partners. I would like to start by acknowledging the absence of my submissions in the last two issues of the magazine. I recognize the need and importance of passing on information through Star & Shield and do not want to fill in with “fluff pieces” when there isn’t significant activity about our classifications. Thankfully, we have some positive updates to pass on. We had two classes that went through the STARS Center and joined our family. On May 3, Sheriff Security Assistant Class #24-1 brought six new members to the Department. Read More

Retirees Weigh in on the Passionate Love/Hate Relationship With California

In my last article, I asked those who left California what reasons they had to leave. California has arguably the best weather in the world for those who like two seasons — hot and hotter — but it is nice to barbecue on Christmas, and our Rose Parade shows the world what life can be like here in January. But those decisions to stay, leave or go “hybrid” are always so complicated. Well, I received more emails from that article than any other I have written in my many, many years at PPOA. Read More

Honored to Serve You for My Final Term

Election season for the PPOA Board arrived last month, and I was honored to find no one filed to run against me, so I will be around for at most another two years. My plan was to leave sooner, but life can be unpredictable. As I start my final term on the PPOA Board representing Unit 621, I want to share some goals for our members. The issues affecting the future reconfiguration of the desk operations/dispatch need to be more transparent and more publicized. Read More