President’s Message

As his friend and colleague for many years, I want to dedicate my president’s message to Grant Ward and write as someone who knew him not just as the steadfast president of the Sheriff’s Employees’ Benefit Association (SEBA) and a dedicated PORAC Executive Committee member, but as a brother in arms, a source of endless encouragement and one of the most genuinely positive souls I’ve ever encountered. Read More

Happy new year! I hope this holiday season was filled with joy, rest and reflection. I want to start this message with a heartfelt thank-you for reelecting me as your president. Your continued trust in my leadership is something I do not take for granted. Leading PORAC is a profound honor. Read More

I want to start this message with a heartfelt thank-you for a successful 2025. PORAC has always been a bottom-up organization — built by our members, for our members. Your voices, input and leadership guide everything we do, which has positioned us as the preeminent voice of California peace officers. Every policy position we take, every issue we engage in and every success we achieve starts with the experiences and concerns that come from our members in the field. Read More

Last month, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 627, the mask bill, into law. In my decades serving as a peace officer and eight years as PORAC’s president, representing the rights and benefits of more than 87,000 California public safety professionals, I have never seen a bill that so blatantly deceives the public as SB 627. This bill represents a dangerous attack on California’s local peace officers by creating immunity exceptions when unauthorized mask use is involved. Read More

As we enter October, I want to address a pressing issue that affects every one of us: the balance between public accountability and the privacy rights of peace officers. Last month, UC Berkeley and Stanford University unveiled a groundbreaking yet concerning database in collaboration with media outlets CalMatters, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and KQED. Read More

Last month, PORAC announced its endorsements for California governor — endorsing both Republican Chad Bianco and Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa. Yes, you read that right; it’s the first time we’ve backed two candidates for the same spot. Read More

Imagine being on the same call as your cover officer and both of you are injured, only to discover that they receive full benefits while you’re left with a reduced benefit — simply because of a different Penal Code (PC) 830 subsection. This glaring inequity, rooted in California’s fragmented peace officer classifications, undermines our profession’s unity and strength. California PC Section 830 has always been an issue for law enforcement. Read More

PORAC has reached an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to ensure California’s law enforcement policies are based on accurate data and fair analysis. In late April, Assembly Bill 284 (Alanis) advanced out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee and headed to the Appropriations Committee. This advancement represents progress in our ongoing efforts to move towards a more honest, transparent process in how the Board assesses racial profiling in California. Read More

This month, many of us will gather to honor our fallen brothers and sisters during memorial ceremonies here in California and in Washington, D.C. These events always leave me with a mix of emotions — grief for those we’ve lost, pride in their service and renewed determination to support those who continue to wear the badge. Standing together, we’re reminded that their sacrifices light the way for our mission today, inspiring us to strengthen our communities and protect one another. Read More

Public safety is paramount. Ensuring our law enforcement officers have the resources and support they need is a shared responsibility. Collective bargaining, when approached with fiscal responsibility and a focus on local control, can be a valuable tool in achieving this goal. However, recent events such as the passage of H.B. 267 in Utah highlight the need for a balanced discussion on how best to support our officers and the communities they serve. Read More