In a recent case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a disgruntled high school cheerleader who was suspended for complaining about not making the varsity squad. You might think that has little bearing on law enforcement, but it demonstrates how an individual’s First Amendment free speech protections are weighed against their school or employer’s interest in preventing substantial disruption. In this article, Mastagni Holstedt, APC, explains the legal principles involved and how they apply to public employees. Read More »

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 […] Read More »

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. Read More »

“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. Read More »

It was a high school senior project that kickstarted Starla Reader’s journey to becoming the first female Emergency Services Unit (ESU) operator in Los Angeles Airport Police Department history. Read More »