Important news regarding HR 218
Dear OCEA member,
I want to share some good news regarding House Resolution 218 as it relates to the SSO classification. HR 218 - the Law Enforcement Safety Act - includes provisions for authorizing a qualified law enforcement officer with photographic governmental identification to carry a concealed firearm.
OCEA, working collaboratively with Sheriff Don Barnes, Assistant Sheriff Jon Briggs, Lt. Mark Alsobrook, and your SSO Board of Directors reached a positive outcome on the HR 218 issue as it relates to SSOs and retired SSOs. This has been an ongoing issue for several years and we are glad to have the Sheriff's support in confirming what we have always known - that SSOs and SSO retirees are law enforcement officers as defined by Federal law. We have entered into a side letter agreement which you can read here.
While the agreement does not specifically mention HR 218, the changes to SSO and retired SSO identification cards align with the requirements of HR 218. This does not confer or imply SSO “Peace Officer” status but it does specifically identify the carrier of the ID card as a “Law Enforcement” officer. It further clearly designates an SSO as “an active law enforcement officer with statutory powers of arrest pursuant to CPC 836.5 who is authorized to carry a firearm in the performance of his/her duties.” For honorably retired SSOs, the ID will clearly state that “he/she is an honorably retired law enforcement officer.” For active SSOs, the ID will be green with the Sheriff’s Star and County Seal.
Beginning January 6, 2021, PSD will reach out to each division to get the ID cards issued as soon as possible. This issuance process may take a few weeks to complete so please be patient. If by the end of January, you have not received your ID card, please contact PSD at 714-834-5910. PSD will also reach out to retirees to get their ID cards exchanged.
Again, this was a long time in the making. We not only want to thank the current SSO Board members, Henry Leber, Dan Edwards, Andrew Rodriguez, Marika Patterson, Alan Cleveland, and David Rapinotti, for their work but also recently retired board members, Oliver Didio and Mike Torley. We will continue to fight to protect the rights of our members in the SSO classification.
In Solidarity,
Aaron Peardon
Sr. Labor Relations Representative
Publication Date: December 28, 2020
