I would like to thank the members of the Los Angeles Police Protective League for their vote of confidence in electing me to serve as a League Director for Office #6. When I made the decision to run, it was after an experience that left a lasting impression on me and my family. After suffering through this significantly difficult time, I made a personal commitment to help others facing a similar situation. Unfortunately, my experience is not unique. Many of our members suffer similar difficulties every year. Some survive, some do not, but everyone leaves the experience damaged in one way or another. Today more than ever, police officers seem to be under attack — and the attacks are coming from all directions. Every day officers go out on the streets of our City, not knowing what the day will bring or if they will make it home. With the recent events across the country, it is inevitable that our officers will come under even more less-than-objective and immediate scrutiny. Any of us might find our actions on the evening news or spread across the headlines of the newspaper. This really is not anything new. What has changed is the lack of support we now endure, in spite of the increasingly difficult job we perform. As police officers, we are entering a new era where it is vitally important, now more so than ever, to have a strong League that will have our backs when the going gets tough. It is not a matter of if, but when we will have the next critical incident that will shine the spotlight of intense scrutiny and requisite second guessing on one of our members. And, in the world of instant news, this will expand to the national level. Let’s be prepared for it when it happens; but keep in mind — there are incidents every day where our members rely on our support. Once again thank you for the trust you’ve shown in me. I look forward to the challenges ahead. If you have questions, feel free to contact me at (213) 251-4554 or email me at [email protected].