As we approach the hot summer months, I want to reflect on some of the amazing achievements of our Association. One of the most important topics of conversation around the LVPPA is membership. I often wonder what our membership numbers look like for the LVPPA. Understand that we are a right-to-work state, which means no one is forced to be a member of this, or any, association. With that said, we currently maintain a 96% total membership rate! That is an amazing number considering that officers are not forced to join, and we currently have over 3,500 officers with the LVMPD alone.

I believe this is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of the men and women associated with the PPA. From our office staff to our legal team to our delegates, our Board of Directors and finally our Executive Board, I task all of them to give everything they have, 24/7, to the men and women who pay their dues to be members of this Association. I often feel bad about the many hours of family time and personal time that I ask our team to give up, but not once has any of them complained. I am, and you should be as well, extremely thankful for the team that I have assembled here at the PPA.

In the last year, we have increased the success and visibility of the delegate position within the LVPPA. These men and women are on every shift and in every area of this agency, offering support and keeping the Executive Board up to date on current issues affecting our officers. We are being told more and more that our officers are contacting their delegate for assistance and are happy with the results. Thank you to all those delegates putting in the time to make the LVPPA better every day. If you are an active officer and are interested in becoming a delegate, just reach out to your elected Board member or any of us on the Executive Board.

We have also organized many events for our members and their families. Not only have we taken great strides to be your collective bargaining group and legal defense, but we also try our best to run events to bring the more benevolent side of the Association to you and your family members. These events have proven to bring our officers together in a fun and safe environment to enjoy the company of their friends and families. I thank our team for always having new ideas for events for our folks, and I thank our membership for trusting our team to deliver an amazing experience for them.

To close out this message, I want you all to know how much I have appreciated being the president of the LVPPA. I have been able to do some amazing things as a police officer, but nothing I have done can compare to how much I have loved being your president. My elected term ends this year, and, with the blessing of the Executive Board and the Board of Directors, I hope to be re-elected and remain your president until the end of my career. I plan on spending the next few years not only advancing our Association as we have been doing, but also grooming the next group of Executive Board members to make sure that when I leave, we are still in good hands.

Thank you all again for your membership and your support, and please stay safe.