The Retiree Medical Reimbursement Trust (RMT) provides reimbursement for qualified insurance premiums for over 300 eligible VCDSA retirees.  In order to receive reimbursement, the retiree must complete a Claim Form. This important form, along with the 2013 Annual Statements, are now available under "News & Resources: What's New".

On May 6, 2013, members of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office and Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office honored their fallen law enforcement brothers and sisters at the California Peace Officers Memorial ceremony in Sacramento.

From left to right, they are: Sergeant Eric Hatlee, Deputy Shawn Holzberger, Deputy Kevin Kipp, Sergeant Randy Watkins, Sr. Deputy Joe Mulrooney, Sr. Deputy Tony Sanders, Detective Chris Corbett, Deputy Victor Flores and Captain Bill Ayub

Some of you might be wondering what, exactly, is “the Cup?” While others among us know what it is and tend to view the Allan Heersche Memorial Cup as the sacred property of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.  However, each year the cup becomes the property of the fastest Baker to Vegas team from among all of the agencies in Ventura County. The cup was established by VCDSA in 2003, in memory of VCSO Sgt. Allan Heersche, who lost his battle to cancer early in life, and also to honor all of our brothers and sisters in law enforcement who have left us far too early.

On March 16, 2013, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office competed against the Ventura County Fire Department in a Charity Basketball Game sponsored by the Kiwanis Key Club.  Dubbed “The Give Back Game,” the event was hosted at Thousand Oaks High School and emphasized sportsmanship and friendly competition amongst public safety professionals.   All of the proceeds from the ticket sales went to benefit the Conejo Valley Food Bank.  All of the participants had a great time volunteering for this honorable cause.  The players represented law enforcement and the VCDSA well by defeating our Fire Department rivals by a final score of 71-35.  VCDSA supported the effort by donating association shirts that were worn during the game. 

Names of players from left to right.  Deputy Chad Bourget, Senior Deputy Todd Welty, Deputy Tyler Ebell, Deputy Cameron Henderson, Sergeant Eric Hatlee, Sergeant Mark Franke, Deputy Jerry Lopez. 

Photo and Article Credit: Sgt. Mark Franke

VCDSA continued its proud tradition of charitable donations during the 2012 calendar year by donating over $48,000 to many worthy causes. Once again, VCDSA was able to provide financial support to over 100 different groups that provide a broad-range of assistance, essential programs, activities and services, the majority of them for citizens right here in Ventura County.

VCDSA members have a right to be proud about their Association’s charitable activities, which are reflected in a combined total of over $650,000 donated back to the community in the last 12 years. VCDSA charitable giving is another way we help demonstrate that the men and women of this Association truly care about the communities in which they work, and the citizens whom they serve.

It has been sixteen years as a board member and six and a half years as VCDSA President, and the time has flown by. I am proud and honoured to have served as your president and it is time for the torch to be handed off. Sergeant Randy Watkins, our vice-president, has accepted the office and will take charge Sunday, February 3. Randy has been extremely involved in VCDSA and PORAC during all the terms I have served as president. Randy and I, as well as the VCDSA Board of Directors, have maintained that our first priority is the service to our members. In light of all the upcoming pension, negotiation and member concerns, it is paramount that the new president be in the driver’s seat. Randy will be leading the VCDSA through the next round of bargaining and member issues.

The Annual Battle of the Badges was another success! Cops and Firefighters raised over $18,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oxnard & Port Hueneme.

VCDSA and PORAC scholarship applications for the 2013-2014 school year are now available. Both organizations are proud to support the education of the children of their members through these scholarship opportunities. Eligibility and deadline requirements are provided below, along with links to the applications.

To be eligible for the VCDSA Scholarship, applicants must be a dependent child of active members of VCDSA in good standing, or of retired members of VCDSA in good standing with ten (10) consecutive years of active membership immediately prior to retirement, or of medically retired members of VCDSA in good standing with five (5) consecutive years of active membership immediately prior to retirement, or of survivors of active or retired members in good standing as described above. Applications are due by 4:00pm, Friday, March 29, 2013. VCDSA Scholarship Application: Click Here

To be eligible for the PORAC Scholarship, applicants must have a parent or legal guardian (proof may be required) that is an active member as defined in Article II of the PORAC Bylaws: A spouse or dependent of an active PORAC member who has died in the line of duty, A spouse or dependent of a deceased while active PORAC member. An active PORAC member who has medically retired (proof may be required) from his employing agency. Applicants whose parents membership is defined as Honorary, Reserve, Associate or Limited, are not eligible for scholarship awards. Application must be received at PORAC Headquarters by the end of business day April 1, 2013. PORAC Scholarship Application: Click Here

In November 2012, members of the Sheriff’s Military Affairs Committee prepared and shipped out 20 care packages to Sheriff’s staff, family, and members of local law enforcement agencies who were deployed over the holidays.  The Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s Association generously donated Sheriff’s t-shirts with the care packages.

The Sheriff’s Office continues to receive cards & letters of thanks and emails from overseas by the members of our deployed law enforcement family. 

Army First Sergeant Gilbert Zavala (son of Sheriff’s Fingerprint Technician Penny Zavala), attached to Special Forces stationed in the Philippines, emailed his thanks to the Sheriff’s Office for the care package he received.  He proudly sent the above picture to us from the Philippines, displaying the Ventura County Sheriff’s t-shirt as he stood in a rainforest.

A recent “thank you” card was sent by Scott Quamme of the Navy.  Click on Thank You Card to view.

A big thanks for all of the donations and to all of those on the Military Affairs Committee who have taken time to reach out to our deployed military members.

It is time again for the VCDSA health care plan open enrollment! Please take the time to review the important information contained in the attached document. Choosing your health care plan (and the benefits that go with it) is an important decision and this booklet is designed to help. It is a snapshot of the benefits that come with the various Anthem Blue Cross health plan(s). It shows what’s available to you, what you get with each benefit and how the plan(s) work. Click here to access the open enrollment document.

Members of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Honor Guard and VCDSA Board of Directors in Sacramento to honor California’s fallen peace officers at the 2012 California Peace Officers’ Memorial.  From left to right: Deputy Cameron Henderson, Sgt Cecil Valenti, Sgt Dave Wareham, Sgt Randy Watkins, SR Dep Tony Sanders, Dep James Gray, Dep Brian Woodworth, Dep Shawn Holzberger.

Andrew Graham, Leah Ramsaier, Ashley Pulido, Hannah Garcia, Hunter Young, Joseph Sander. (Not pictured: Christopher Bornet)

The VCDSA Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 VCDSA Scholarship Awards.  As is customary, the winners were selected based upon a blind review of applications, meaning that the identities of the applicants were unknown to the committee members (all identifying information was stricken from the applications).  The selection criteria is based upon academic standing and performance, participation in school, athletic and outside activities, community service, overcoming of personal obstacles, and quality of application essay.    Click here to view the seven winners, who will each receive a $1,500 scholarship payable to the college they attend.

Support the POAVC (Peace Officers Association of Ventura County) Memorial Paver Project. This important project is a fundraiser for the Ventura Peace Officers Memorial to permanently dedicate your personal thanks and recognition for the sacrifices of the fallen in the form of a brick paver. You can purchase any number of bricks inscribed with your message of approx. 39 character max. Contact Matt Findlay for details at 805-509-0124. Paver donations are $300, $400 or $500. Paver donations are tax deductible and the proceeds of this fundraiser will be used to offset the cost of maintaining the memorial in perpetuity. This is a limited, one-time opportunity.

Steve Silver has been VCDSA’s principal labor counsel for many years, and is recognized throughout the State of California as an expert in public safety labor issues, and in public pension and retirement issues.  Steve was lead counsel in the litigation brought by VCDSA that came to be known as the  “Ventura Decision,” which benefited tens of thousands of public employees statewide.

Many of Steve’s clients have been asking questions about the current anti-pension rhetoric and proposed legislation and ballot initiatives targeting hard-won retirement benefits. These are retirement benefits that represent a modest level of future security for public employees, and they are under attack. Please click on the button below to read Steve’s appraisal of these pension attacks and what they could mean to you.