Feature

Since 1962, May 15 has been designated as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as National Police Week — a time “to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and to voice our appreciation for all those who currently serve on the front lines of the battle against crime,” according to the joint resolution by Congress that was signed by President John F. Kennedy. Each May, peace officers, surviving family members and law enforcement supporters across the country join together in local, state and national ceremonies to remember all the brave men and women who have given their lives in the line of duty, both in the past year and throughout history. Read More

Each year during the second week of April, the law enforcement community comes together to celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, a time to recognize the invaluable role of dispatchers and operators and their contributions to the profession. The event was spearheaded in 1981 by veteran dispatcher Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office as a way to recognize her colleagues and highlight the behind-the-scenes work of telecommunicators. Read More

As California prepares for next November’s pivotal 2026 governor election, several declared candidates made their way to the PORAC Board of Directors meeting held at headquarters on February 3–4. This unprecedented level of engagement underscores the significance of public safety in the upcoming election and highlights PORAC’s role as a leading advocate for law enforcement professionals across the state. Read More

PORAC members, supporters and golf enthusiasts will soon gather in Seaside for a day of camaraderie and competition at the fourth annual POREF Open. Hosted by PORAC’s Region I, this year’s tournament will take place on April 24 at the Bayonet Golf Course. The event promises to offer amazing views, a great challenge and an opportunity to raise vital funds for the Peace Officers Relief and Education Foundation (POREF). Read More

February 15 is National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day, an opportunity to recognize the invaluable work of the peace officers devoted to protecting students, schools and their surrounding communities. Read More

Processions of patrol vehicles and fire trucks from local, state and federal public safety agencies in the Central Coast and Southern California rolled by local hospitals with lights and sirens activated to spread joy to health care workers and their patients during Operation Holiday Cheer on December 17 and 18. Read More

A total of 600 delegates representing 113 associations gathered at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert November 21–23 for the 72nd annual PORAC Conference of […] Read More

For those of us in law enforcement, the holiday season can be filled with highs and lows and what might best be described as a fierce pit of internal conflict. On the one hand, we feel a sense of joy and relief because we are still here. We made it! We triumphed over the BS. The horrors of 2024 are in the rearview mirror. We have prevailed through the politics and mandatory overtime, and we get to hit restart on some of our goals, both personal and professional.
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National Police Week is our time to pause and recognize those officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It is about honoring the selfless service of fallen officers and a reminder and celebration of the over 800,000 officers who continue to serve at great personal risk. For those of us tasked with investigating officers’ responses to violence, it remains clear that officers risk more than their physical and mental well-being. Read More

In August, PORAC published a research brief on the current state of law enforcement staffing shortages in California. The brief highlighted first-of-its-kind research showcasing the inconsistent levels of law enforcement staffing across California, utilizing California Department of Justice (DOJ) data. Since the research brief was published, the DOJ released updated data about the number of sworn law enforcement officers in each county. Read More