On this episode of “On the Job with PORAC,” Brian has PORAC’s recently elected Vice President, Damon Kurtz, and recently elected Treasurer, Timothy Davis, on the show to talk about their history in law enforcement and how they are looking ahead to a new year for PORAC.  Damon Kurtz is a 24-year veteran who started as a Deputy in Santa Barbara and has now been with Fresno PD for the past 14 years.  Damon was formerly President of Fresno POA and Chairman of PORAC’s Insurance and Benefits Trust.  Timothy Davis, the son of a police officer and father of police officer, began his career with Sac PD in 1998.  Just two years in the job, Tim joined the Sac POA Board of Directors and three years ago was elected President of Sac POA, while also serving on PORAC’s Board of Directors.  Join us on this podcast as we welcome in our new PORAC leadership and see what’s in store for 2019.  

Today, President Marvel and Randy, with Aaron Read & Associates (ARA), talk about PORAC’s 2018 legislative victories.  In a time where law enforcement is constantly playing defense against bad bills, PORAC continues to work with our legislative advocates at ARA to sponsor and support critical public safety measures. 

In 2018, PORAC sponsored two work comp bills that made it successfully to the governor’s desk and received a signature. The first bill, AB 1749 by Assemblymember Daly, was a result of the 2017 Route 91 shooting in Vegas.   This bill ensures that California’s Workers Compensation System covers peace officers who acted outside of state boundaries and were injured, regardless of their injuries.  The second successful PORAC sponsored bill is SB 1086 by Senator Atkins which extends the survivor death benefit eligibility to ensure that these officers’ grieving families are not deprived of the benefits they deserve due to an arbitrary and unfair timeline.  Please listen in for more!

On this episode of “On the Job with PORAC,” Brian Marvel talks with PORAC’s outgoing Vice President, Brent Meyer.  Brent is stepping down from his role at PORAC to go back to where it began as a cop for Sac PD.  Tune in to hear how Brent first got involved in police union politics with Sac POA and followed his calling to be on the PORAC Board in 2010 and then VP in 2013.  Brent brought a bold vision with him to PORAC, which resulted in remarkable membership growth, a new approach to communications, and a goal to ensure that our members have all the resources necessary to do their jobs.  Thank you, Brent, for everything you’ve done for PORAC.  You will be missed!

On this episode of “On the Job with PORAC,” Brian sits down with PORAC’s legislative advocate, Randy Perry, with Aaron Read & Associates (ARA), to discuss PORAC’s priority bills in the recent legislative session.  ARA monitors the thousands of bills introduced each year to ensure that PORAC is represented at the Capitol on all matters of public safety.  Outside of bills such as AB 931, SB 1421, and AB 748, as we discussed in previous podcasts, PORAC faces many other legislative issues such as peace officer training, workers comp, pensions, bargaining, POBR, and equipment funding and acquisition. 

Tune in to hear how PORAC and ARA work together to ensure law enforcement has the tools and resources necessary to do their job in the current political climate. 

Brian sits down with Ed Mullins, President of the New York Sergeants Benevolent Association and Andrew Quinn, the SBA’s General Counsel to discuss the high profile case of NYPD Sergeant, Hugh Barry.  Make sure to listen in to hear how the case against Sgt. Barry turned into political prosecution of extreme measures and why it is critical to have the protection and security of your association.  What happened in New York can happen anywhere, and it will.  Law enforcement must stick together to protect our officers when they need it the most.