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From:Clerk of the Board
To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Lee,
Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth; Honea,
Kory
Cc:Harvey-Butterfield, Briana
Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: The PORAC Perspective
Date:Friday, May 2, 2025 10:47:15 AM
Please see Board Correspondence -
From: PORAC <info@porac.ccsend.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 1, 2025 1:06 PM
To: Clerk of the Board <clerkoftheboard@buttecounty.net>
Subject: The PORAC Perspective
May 2025
MAY 2025
The Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) is the preeminent
voice of law enforcement in California. We represent 83,000+ public safety members and
955+ associations, making us the largest law enforcement organization in California and
the largest statewide association in the nation. Our mission is simple: we represent and
protect the rights and benefits of peace officers, as well as advocate for and support
victims of crime.
Continue reading below to learn more about our work to advance the law enforcement
profession and public safety through state and federal advocacy, research, education, and
training.
We Are PORAC
A New Guide to Our Major Services & Initiatives
From staffing shortages to evolving training needs, the challenges facing California’s peace
officers are complex—and PORAC is committed to tackling them head-on. We bring together
public safety professionals from every corner of the state to advocate for policy solutions,
develop research on emerging issues, and provide comprehensive legal, health care, and
charitable support for officers throughout their careers.
To provide a snapshot of these efforts and keep you informed about who we are and the issues
we care about most, we’ve developed a new fact sheet that serves as a one-page cheat sheet
summarizing our major initiatives and the value PORAC brings to our members and our
California communities. We encourage you to read this new resource to better understand how
we are working to meet the needs of public safety professionals and the communities they
serve.
Read the PORAC 101 Fact Sheet
All About the Advocacy
PORAC's California Legislative Priorities
As California’s legislative session continues, PORAC is actively sponsoring a slate of bills that
support common-sense reforms, strengthen public safety, protect labor rights, and support the
well-being of peace officers. From improving data reporting standards to expanding mental
health resources and safeguarding due process, these measures reflect our ongoing
commitment to both accountability and fairness in the criminal justice system. Below is a
snapshot of key bills we’re backing this year:
· AB 284 (Alanis) – Law Enforcement Stop Data & Reporting: Proposes targeted
reforms to the Racial and Identity Profiling Act to promote accuracy in data collection
and analysis. By allowing for a dissenting opinion in annual reports and improving board
composition, the bill aims to produce more accurate reports that will better support the
elimination of bias in policing.
· AB 340 (Ahrens) – Employer-Employee Relations: Confidential Communications:
Will safeguard the right of public employees to communicate confidentially with their
union representatives about workplace concerns without fear of employer retaliation by
codifying existing rulings from the Public Employment Relations Board.
· AB 400 (Pacheco) – Police Canines: Will create standardized, statewide training and
operational guidelines for law enforcement K-9 programs to ensure their responsible and
effective use and promote professionalism and accountability.
· AB 1383 (McKinnor) – Public Employees’ Retirement Benefits: Will restore fairness
in the retirement system and support recruitment and retention in law enforcement by
allowing collective bargaining for enhanced pension formulas.
· SB 459 (Grayson) – Confidential Communications: Group Peer Support Services:
Will extend existing confidentiality protections to group peer support sessions for peace
officers, ensuring the same safeguards that apply to one-on-one interactions.
· SB 734 (Caballero) – Criminal Procedure: Discrimination: Will ensure due process
for individuals accused of racial bias under the California Racial Justice Act by requiring
proper notice and the opportunity to respond during evidentiary hearings – upholding
accountability while reinforcing fairness and transparency in the justice system for
everyone.
· SB 758 (Umberg) – Juries: Preemptory Challenges: Will restore balance in the jury
selection process for trials involving peace officers by allowing attorneys to consider
potential juror bias against law enforcement when using peremptory challenges.
Learn More About PORAC's Legislative Priorities
The "R" in PORAC: Research & Insights
Women in Law Enforcement Research Brief
During Women’s History Month, PORAC released a new research brief examining the critical
yet often overlooked role of women in law enforcement. The brief highlights the unique
contributions that female officers make in strengthening public trust, improving policing
outcomes, and fostering safer communities. However, despite these contributions, women
remain significantly underrepresented in departments nationwide and continue to face barriers to
recruitment, retention, and advancement. The brief explores these challenges and calls for
meaningful reforms to build a law enforcement workforce that better reflects America’s
communities.
Key takeaways from the brief include:
· Female Officers Improve Community Policing: Research shows that female officers
are linked to decreased use of force, improved community trust, and better outcomes for
crime victims.
· Underrepresentation is a Nationwide Problem: Women make up only 14% of sworn
officers, 20% of recruits, and less than 9% of chiefs in state and local law enforcement
agencies across the US.
· Recruitment & Retention Barriers Persist: Workplace cultures, gender biases, and
inadequate family support policies can impact recruitment, retention, and advancement
for female officers.
· Enhancing Workplace Policies is Key: To build upon progress and broaden pathways
into law enforcement, agencies must implement workplace policies that support working
parents – like increasing on-site childcare options and investing in professional
development programs.
Read the Brief
"On the Job with PORAC" Podcast
A POST Guide to the Officer Decertification Process
Each month, PORAC leadership invites expert guests to our “On the Job with PORAC”
Podcast for in-depth conversations about the most pressing issues facing law enforcement and
public safety in California and across the country. In our latest episode, PORAC President Brian
Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault spoke with officials from the California Commission on
Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) about how California’s decertification process
works following the passage of SB 2. The episode walks through the full investigative process –
from complaint intake to potential disciplinary action – and offers insight into officers’ rights and
procedural safeguards along the way.
With approximately 1,000 higher-priority investigations underway and over 400 formal actions
taken to date, understanding the POST process is essential for all California public safety
policymakers and regulators. Tune in for key information directly from the officials who oversee
these cases.
Watch the Podcast
What Are We Reading?
Click on the below links to check out our recent must-reads:
· KCRA: Women are still underrepresented in law enforcement. An effort is underway to
change that
· KTLA 5: Hundreds of arrests made as part of San Bernardino joint law enforcement
operation
· Police 1: 'Broken System': Calif. PD chief says man who killed SWAT officer had
multiple convictions
· Orange County Register: Prop. 36 is California's light at the end of a crime-ridden
tunnel: Now we need to fund it
· Newsweek: Social Security Benefits Increased for Some Americans: Here's Who's
Impacted
The PORAC Promise: We will work with you. Regardless of who you are or what party or
organization you represent, if you have a genuine interest in improving the law enforcement
profession and making a positive impact on public safety outcomes, we want to hear from you.
Learn more and reach out to our team:
Visit Our Website Listen to the "On the Job" Podcast
Get In Touch Read Our Policy Platform
PORAC | 2940 Advantage Way | Sacramento, CA 95834 US
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