Feature

Although they share a bond as first responders, law enforcement and firefighters are typically seen as members of separate and distinct worlds — often with a friendly rivalry between them that serves as the basis for charity sporting events and other fundraisers, as well as plenty of insider humor. But there are some jobs where the two spheres overlap. Cynthia Sato is a 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department who holds the rank of firefighter/paramedic and has been assigned to the LAFD’s Arson Section for the past seven years. She and her fellow arson investigators are sworn peace officers under Penal Code Section 830.37(a) and members of PORAC through the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City (UFLAC), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 112. Read More

Every year, law enforcement officers across the United States are struck and killed on the side of the road — not in foot pursuits, not in firefights, but while working traffic incidents. The statistics are sobering. Secondary crashes at incident scenes kill hundreds of people annually, and officers working those scenes face a disproportionate risk of being struck by passing vehicles. Traffic Incident Management (TIM) training, developed under the Federal Highway Administration’s SHRP2 program, exists precisely to change that equation.
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On May 3 and 4, peace officers, surviving family members and law enforcement supporters from throughout the state gathered at the Capitol in Sacramento for the 48th annual California Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony, honoring the 12 officers killed in the line of duty in 2025, as well as one who died in 2008. Each year, the solemn commemorations serve to formally enroll peace officers who have died in the line of duty — both in the preceding year and in the distant past — pay tribute to the more than 1,670 officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice since California became a state, and honor the loved ones and colleagues left behind. We recognize their sacrifice, pledge to support their survivors and commit to never forgetting their selfless service to their communities.  Read More

PORAC leadership gathered at the State Capitol on May 5 for its annual Legislative Day, engaging with policymakers on issues that matter most to members and the law enforcement profession as a whole. PORAC focused on its sponsored measures supporting the modernization of public safety retirement benefits to address California’s staffing and retention crisis (AB 1383), protecting confidential union communications (AB 1564) and ensuring transparency when public employers use generative artificial intelligence in the workplace (AB 2656). Read More

During National Police Week, May 10–16, PORAC, along with its partners Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs (WACOPS) and Oregon Coalition of Police and Sheriffs (ORCOPS),  traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with key legislators, congressional staff, influential committees, and national law enforcement and labor organizations to strengthen partnerships, discuss policies that support the profession and ensure the voices of West Coast law enforcement are heard on Capitol Hill. PORAC advocated for increased funding for state and local law enforcement programs in the FY27 budget and discussed key legislation aimed at improving recruitment and retention, including measures addressing access to childcare (H.R. 3304/S. 2337), affordable housing (H.R. 2094/S. 978) and Medicare gap protection (H.R. 6157). Read More

Each May, peace officers, surviving family members and law enforcement supporters throughout the nation pay respects to all our brothers and sisters who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, both in the past year and throughout history. This year’s California Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremonies at the State Capitol on May 3–4 honor the 12 officers featured here whom we lost in 2025, as well as one who died in 2008. Read More

Held on April 9 at the Eagle Springs Golf & Country Club in Friant, the fifth annual POREF Open brought together 125 golfers for a day of friendly competition and charitable giving hosted by PORAC Region II. All proceeds benefit the Peace Officers Relief and Education Foundation (POREF), which provides memorial assistance, educational scholarships and other relief programs to officers and their families in times of need. Read More

The Chula Vista Police Department is widely recognized within the law enforcement and unmanned aircraft community as the first true Drone as First Responder (DFR) program in the world. However, since the program’s inception in 2018, the DFR landscape has evolved significantly. Advancements in equipment, software and supporting hardware have progressed rapidly, resulting in substantial improvements in capability and performance. Read More

During the second week of April each year, the law enforcement community celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week to recognize the critical work of dispatchers and operators and their contributions to the profession. The event began in 1981, when veteran dispatcher Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office sought to formally recognize her colleagues and shine a light on the often unseen work of telecommunicators. Read More

The 2026 PORAC Symposium on April 22–23 in Temecula will offer a forward-looking, two-day training experience focused on the evolving realities of public safety. Designed to address the challenges of modern policing, Symposium 2026 brings together legal experts, clinicians and experienced practitioners to examine the complex issues shaping today’s peace officers and public safety professionals. Read More