NAPA - On July 27, 2017, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) participated in Department of State Hospital's (DSH) Chiefs Joint Labor Management Committee Meeting.  Attending the meeting from CSLEA were Supervising Legal Counsel David De La Riva, Senior Legal Counsel Ryan Navarre, Hospital Police Association of California (HPAC) President Luis Jimenez, and HPAC Secretary Michael Hakker.  Attending from DSH were Office of Protective Services (OPS)  Chief David Landrum, DSH Labor Relations Specialist Leslie Overton, and all chiefs of police at the five (5) State Hospitals.

"It is HPAC's intention to ensure that the issues that are discussed at these meetings are addressed until they are resolved or finalized," said Jimenez.  "The process and time that this takes can be frustrating for our officers.  Any decision regarding many of the matters discussed are made by agencies that are outside of, or, oversee DSH. "

Below is a list of topic that were discussed:

• HPO ID Cards – OPS will soon present to DSH executives, CSLEA’s proposal to change HPO ID Cards and all DSH Staff ID Cards to include last names. CSLEA believes that this change is important for staff safety as it will conform to the name structure used on Personal Duress Alarms (PDAs).
• ASH Academy Training Standard – CSLEA expressed some concerns on questionable training standards at the ASH Academy.  Although DSH has been able to recruit large cadet classes recently, CSLEA is concerned that the training standards have diminished.  CSLEA urged DSH to ensure that the training standards are consistent to those that have been used in recent years.
• CSLEA and DSH discussed various strategies to improve benefits:
  • Strategies to roll over the Recruitment and Retention Differential into base salary.
  • The critical need for Field Training Officers (FTOs) and the importance of adopting a FTO Pay Differential.  We also discussed training differential for Communications Operators.
• CSLEA received the following updates from DSH:
  • Uniform Committee – The committee has been meeting and has nearly completed a draft policy to be reviewed by OPS and chiefs.
  • Firearms Task Force – The Firearms Proposal continues to be at Health and Human Services (HHS) for review.  OPS will continue to engage with HHS on any questions or technical assistance.
  • Pre and Post Shift Work Activities – DSH is still evaluating CSLEA’s request to discuss pre and post shift work activities by officers.
  • Enhanced Treatment Program – The Enhanced Treatment Program will result in a number of additional officer positions at ASH (approximately 32) and PSH (approximately 21).  CSLEA expressed its concern in DSH being able to effectively recruit and fill for these positions, and barriers to train the new employees.
  • Staffing Study/Survey – The staffing survey/study is finally nearing completion.  CSLEA is hopeful that the results will provide DSH with needed support to request additional officer positions.
• CSLEA made the following suggestions to DSH:
  • Communication – CSLEA suggested that in order to achieve consistency and uniformity, that any information OPS intends to disseminate be directly emailed to all OPS staff (including HPOs).  This will ensure information is accurately and timely shared with all staff.
  • OLES – CSLEA continues to have concerns with dissemination of OLES related materials.  CSLEA stressed the need for OPS command staff to provide accurate OLES information to officers.  OPS informed CSLEA that it is in the process of adding an OLES tab to the intranet so officers are able to directly access OLES related information and resources.
  • Academy Uniform/Clothing Reimbursement – There is a need to have a consistent policy for the reimbursement of academy uniforms/clothing.
  • Patient Off Grounds Visitation Policy – There is a need to have a consistent policy regarding the patient visitation while at off-grounds facilities.
  • Specialized Training – CSLEA suggested that DSH consider other forms of specialized training (i.e. sexual assault investigations, active shooter response, etc.)
  • Labor Code 3212.2 – CSLEA requested that DSH push the administration to update LC 3212.2 to include Coalinga, Metro, Napa, and Patton State Hospitals.

CSLEA was pleased that all DSH chiefs were present to discuss the above topics. CSLEA will continue to work on these matters in an effort to improve work conditions and benefits for HPOs.