SACRAMENTO – California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) officers and directors met at CSLEA headquarters and via video conference on December 14, 2021 for their final board meeting of the year.

“It is important for us to come together as a group to set our goals, evaluate our areas of accomplishment and to look at where we might need to focus additional attention,” said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona.  “Thank you to our directors for dedicating the time, effort and passion needed to serve our valued CSLEA members.”

In addition to receiving updates from consultants and staff, the board had the opportunity to discuss and ask questions about endorsement considerations, COVID-19, California’s business climate and economic forecast, and potential essential workers’ pay.

Consultant and staff updates included:

• CFO Ricardo Sanchez and CPA Steve Olds (Williams & Olds Accounting, Auditing, Tax
  & Consulting Services) presented CSLEA’s financial report including assets, liabilities, equities and the annual CPA audit of CSLEA finances.
• Communications Director Teri Cox updated the board on media items including eblasts, communications with members, social media, and the website.
• CFO Ricardo Sanchez presented a membership report including the current number of members, the work to reach all professionals in Bargaining Unit 7, and emphasized that CSLEA is available to any member.  “I enjoy going out to talk to membership at trainings, meetings and offices.” said Sanchez.
• Chief Counsel Kasey Clark presented the Legal Representation Committee and Legal Defense Fund (LDF) reports including an update on the Janus retroactivity cases and current arbitration cases.
• Legislative Advocate Shane LaVigne (Capitol Advocacy) spoke to the board about bills CSLEA sponsored, supported, or opposed during the legislative year and discussed topics of possible legislation in the upcoming year including crime, police reform, wildfire, and water.
• Political Consultant Peter Mitchell updated the board on the political scene including federal, state and local offices. Mitchell spoke to directors about their possible conflicts of supporting a candidate based on personal or party affiliations versus supporting candidates who will work to improve pay, benefits and working conditions for CSLEA members.

Board actions – The CSLEA Board voted to

• endorse California Attorney General Rob Bonta for re-election.
• explore adding supervisors into the unit for CSLEA affiliates that have an interest in doing so.

COVID-19 Update: CSLEA Chief Counsel Clark spoke to CSLEA directors about COVID-19 and reasonable accommodations surrounding testing concerns.

Essential Worker Pay:  CSLEA directors expressed their members’ frustration over the delay in any potential essential workers’ pay.  CSLEA Chief Counsel Clark outlined his recent and past conversations with CalHR on the topic.  CSLEA President Alan Barcelona acknowledged the frustration presented at the meeting and suggested avenues he could take to receive some answers to their inquiries.

Comments from CSLEA Directors following the meeting:

Tina Brazil, CSLEA senior vice president, Unit-C vice president and president of CHP-Public Safety Dispatchers Association (CHP-PSDA)

“Our year-end meeting was full of information.  CSLEA continues to work on issues regarding each of our affiliates.  CHP-PSDA is always on the frontline working for its members.  We want to wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year!”

 

Dr. Kenneth Ehrman, CSLEA Unit-A vice president and president of Association of Motor Vehicle Investigators of California (AMVIC)

“It is a pleasure to be together as a Board of Directors working collectively for the benefit of our members.”

 

 

Tom Ineichen, CSLEA Unit-B vice president and president of California Association of Regulatory Investigators and Inspectors (CARII)

“CSLEA updated directors on COVID-19 and issues surrounding reasonable accommodations, essential worker pay, and peace officer licensing issues.  It is nice to hear and see that our legal and executive teams are on top of all of this and representing us.”

 

Sara Penn, president of Association of Criminalists-DOJ (AC-DOJ)

“It is always a pleasure to see how dedicated and hard working the CSLEA team is. I know that all of the Unit 7 members are well represented.” 

Jeff McKay, president of California Alcoholic Beverage Control Agents (CABCA)

“It was nice being able to meet with other affiliate presidents to discuss common issues and to try to find ways to increase benefits to our members.”

George Tiongson, president of California Association of Criminal Investigators (CACI)

“Happy holidays to our members and their families.  CSLEA directors met for the last time this year and we continue to work for your benefits.  We went through our annual consolidated financial report and we are solid as a union with a significant percent in liquid assets, we opened the door to LDF coverage as it pertains to SB 2 and peace officer licensing; in addition to opening conversations with CalHR on representing supervisors.”

Joel Lambert, president of California Food and Drug Investigators (CAFDI)

“As we close out the year, many important decisions are still being discussed. We look forward to hopefully adding CAFDI’s Supervising Food and Drug Investigators as full members in the near future. Thanks to CSLEA Senior Counsel Andrea Perez, Chief Counsel Kasey Clark, and President Alan Barcelona for all their hard work and contributions towards our affiliate.”

Enrique Razo – president of the Coalition of Licensing Registration Examiners (COLRE)

“We will continue to monitor the new COVID variant and the fast-changing vehicle technology for our COLRE members.”