The first week of July was an extremely  busy one for our California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) members who work to protect Californians in all that they do.  The combination of extreme heat and  the Fourth of July holiday meant Unit 7 members were in high gear.

WHERE THEY LIVE:   Our CSLEA members who are emergency management professionals with Cal OES monitored every aspect of last week’s heat storm including the power supply, cooling centers, fires, lightning strikes and resources.  Our CSLEA members with CAL FIRE dealt with illegal fireworks in an effort to keep our homes and neighborhoods  safe and our public safety dispatchers and communications operators fielded the 911 calls for help.

WHERE THEY WORK:   Our CSLEA members with the Department of Industrial Relations were busy investigating employers and compliance with heat-related precautions.  With some employees working outside  in 109 degree heat  for extended periods of time, the week was not without problems.  Investigators are looking into why a Yuba City construction worker and a farm worker in Coalinga died.  Both deaths are being investigated as heat related.

WHERE THEY PLAY:   With scores of families on vacation and flocking to parks and beaches, our CSLEA members with the Department of Parks and Recreation, CALFIRE, and Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC)  were extremely busy with  public intoxication, illegal fireworks and people who suddenly  found themselves in trouble with powerful waves of water.

“Our members protect and save lives all year round,” said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona.  “But last week was taxing with the extended period of extreme temperatures combined with the Fourth of July holiday and vacations.  Very few people think about the state workers who, on a daily basis, work to keep Californians safe.  Some of them wear uniforms, some of them don’t, some of them are sworn peace officers, some of them aren’t, but they’re all tremendous public safety professionals who do an incredible job keeping us safe where we live, work and play.   To them, I say thank you.”