SACRAMENTO – California Highway Patrol Public Safety Dispatchers Association (CHP-PSDA) directors held their 2018 third quarter Board of Directors meeting at California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) headquarters in Sacramento on September 27, 2018.

“Our agenda included meeting with new CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley and Deputy Commissioner Scott Silsby, as well as CSLEA President Alan Barcelona and CSLEA Chief Counsel Kasey Clark,” said CHP-PSDA President Tina Brazil.  “CHP is a very large organization and we thank Commissioner Stanley and Deputy Commissioner Silsby for taking time out of their busy schedules to come to CSLEA headquarters and speak with us.  Dispatchers have a very vital role in officer and public safety as well as emergency response.”

Also in attendance from CHP were Commander DeeDee Teel with CCSS and Kurt Wallner with CHP radio project.

The board discussed issues regarding dispatcher and operator positions, policies, recruitment and retention, and issues specific to individual communications centers.

The board also voted to implement a scholarship program beginning in 2019.  Initially, CHP-PSDA will award two $500.00 scholarships.

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona and Chief Counsel Kasey explained the Supreme Court Janus V. AFSCME decision and the need to make CSLEA benefits known to non-members.

“We are the thin line between affordable benefits and no benefits, pensions and no pensions, and every other achievement unions have accomplished over the years.   We must not let our united voice fall by the wayside,” said Barcelona.