LAAPOA Member Spotlight: PO II Shannon Weathersbee
The “LAAPOA Member Spotlight” is a series of articles that highlight our members and the remarkable work they are doing to help keep our airports, parks and communities safe. Whether it’s those in law enforcement or the armed forces, it takes a special individual to voluntarily put on a uniform and risk their life to […]
California Attorney General Releases Guidelines for Officer-Involved Shooting Investigations
The California attorney general’s office recently announced guidelines and protocols for the implementation of AB 1506, a new law that requires the state’s DOJ to investigate all officer-involved shootings resulting in the death of an unarmed civilian. The guidelines have raised a number of concerns among law enforcement, such as the likelihood that they’ll lead to violating officers’ constitutional rights. In this article, Mastagni Holstedt, APC, discusses AB 1506 and outlines some of the most concerning issues for law enforcement.
LAXPD Unit Spotlight: Detective Bureau
“Seeing how my mom was able to bring justice for many victims inspired me to want to follow in her footsteps in becoming a detective,” Detective Erica Villanueva shared when LAAPOA featured her in our “Women of LAXPD” series. Now, she and Detective Ben Spolarich are giving us a more in-depth look at how LAXPD’s detectives seek justice for victims by investigating cases and filing criminal complaints with the court.
LAAPOA Stands With the AAPI Community
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month — a time for our nation to recognize the history, traditions, culture and achievements of AAPIs in the United States. It is also a time to advocate for their safety, equity and well-being, which is more important than ever due to the unprecedented rise in […]
LAAPOA Stands Up to Honor Fallen Heroes
This past year was unlike any that law enforcement — and the nation — has ever seen before. Between COVID-19, senseless attacks on police and an onslaught of tragic incidents, 2020 was the deadliest year in law enforcement history. While law enforcement may have gotten knocked down harder than ever last year, we will stand strong and proud with our brothers and sisters in blue for National Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15 and during National Police Week from May 9 to 15.
Honoring Officer Tommy Scott
Today is a solemn day for the Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association (LAAPOA) as we remember Officer Tommy Scott, who was killed in the line of duty on this day 16 years ago. Scott was killed after stopping a suspicious man in a vehicle near the fence line at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). […]
Federal Court Rejects Exclusion of Holiday-in-Lieu Payments From Overtime
First responders know all too well that they won’t have every holiday off with their families. Public safety services are required every day of the year. This means that if your schedule lands on a holiday, you are required to work. To compensate employees for these schedules, public agencies and their unions often negotiate “holiday-in-lieu” pay.
LAAPOA Statement on the Conviction of Derek Chauvin for the Murder of George Floyd
Today, a jury of his peers found former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, while he was in police custody in Minneapolis. For the past year, and during the trial that started on March 29, the […]
A Look Back at Pioneering Park Rangers
Have you ever studied the ceramic mural in the courtyard of the Griffith Park Visitor Center? The mural, designed and created by ceramic artist Elaine Katzer in 1987, gives a brief history of Griffith Park. In the final panel representing current times, Katzer chose two pioneering rangers to represent the park: Lucia Ruta, the first female ranger, and Doc Jefferson, the first Black mounted ranger.