SACRAMENTO – If there are two names synonymous with a person passionate about expressing the importance of union membership and taking an active role in assisting those in Bargaining Unit 7 job classifications to enroll as union members, they are Steve Fulton and Victor Tovar.

Specifically, for more than 10 years, Fulton has travelled to the Ben Clark Training Center in Riverside to meet with CHP dispatchers-in-training to introduce them to their union, the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) and its affiliate CHP-Public Safety Dispatchers Association (CHP-PSDA), and to assist them in signing up for union membership.

The same can be said for CHP-PSDA Vice President Victor Tovar, who for more than two decades has routinely visited with new dispatchers at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento, with the goal of introducing them to their union and union membership.

“Steve is a dedicated steward of CSLEA and CHP-PSDA and most importantly is driven to see that people he works with have the coverage, protection, representation and safety net they need as they perform their public safety, first responder work,” said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona.  “We very much appreciate his effort, his knowledge, his dedication and his consistent work in showcasing what our union does for its members.  He welcomes new dispatchers and invites them to join the CSLEA family.  CSLEA members know that together we are better, stronger, and more efficient in enhancing pay and benefits, making improvements to the workplace, protecting retirement, and protecting each member.”

Fulton is a Public Safety Dispatcher at the CHP Indio Communications Center, treasurer and secretary of CHP-PSDA, and a union site representative.  When he is not assisting with emergencies which have included major injury accidents, life-threatening snake bites and excessive heat illnesses in hard-to-locate terrain, Fulton devotes many hours helping colleagues, CHP-PSDA and CSLEA – and has done so for more than 10 years, quite possibly signing up as many as 500 new dispatchers to union membership over the years.  Fulton has stated he feels it is most important to give back to his profession and to be sure his knowledge gained is passed down to the next generation.

Fulton’s career has been devoted to public safety and first responder work.  Prior to becoming a CHP dispatcher, Fulton worked as a firefighter.

“CHP-PSDA is so very fortunate to have Steve on its Board of Directors.  His contributions are endless and he truly cares about his profession and colleagues,” said CHP-PSDA President and CSLEA Senior Vice President Tina Brazil.  “His efforts are not unnoticed and we are forever grateful to him for his determined work to keep us union-strong and to continue our work protecting our members.  Thank you, Steve!”

Tovar has worked for the California Highway Patrol for more than two decades and thrives on helping people, he especially feels fulfilled assisting the elderly, kids and the Spanish speaking public.  Tovar has been involved with CHP-PSDA and CSLEA since 1998, first as a site representative at the Sacramento Communications Center, then as a division representative for Valley Division. He was then voted in as vice president of CHP-PSDA.

Tovar enjoys introducing the union to new dispatchers and helping his colleagues as much as being that voice on the other end of the phone and/or radio.  He is deeply involved with the peer support program, which assisted him tremendously after his very dear friend and CHP officer was shot and killed.  Tovar was the dispatcher on the radio that afternoon in Nov 2005.

“Victor is a valued CHP-PSDA vice president, and cares very deeply for the union and colleagues he serves.   He has been a tremendous asset to CSLEA and our continued efforts to pursue salary increases and solve workplace challenges,” said Barcelona.

“Victor is a true professional, a true caring human being and has done so much to assist us at CHP-PSDA,” said Brazil.  “He is a leader with a great smile and a big heart and presses the importance to our membership, how valuable it is to belong to the union.  We thank him for his decades of service to CHP-PSDA and our membership.  Thank you, Victor.”