Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs' Association

Member Services

Collective Bargaining

Employing skilled negotiators along with appointed members from the Board of Directors, VCDSA negotiates salary and benefit contracts for our members with the County of Ventura. During the course of the contract, we monitor for unfair labor practices and ensure that our members are treated appropriately and fairly within the guidelines of the contract and the County's Personnel Rules and Regulations. Our Executive Director assists members in processing grievances.

Legal Defense

All members of the Association are automatically enrolled in a prepaid legal defense program administered in cooperation with the Peace Officer's Research Association of California (PORAC). The Fund provides protection in civil, criminal, and departmental actions brought against peace officers. In addition, the Association's Executive Director serves as a labor representative for members involved in Internal Affairs investigations and disciplinary matters.

Insurance & Benefits

VCDSA offers a variety of supplemental insurance programs to our members at reduced group rates. Medical, dental, life, cancer, accident, intensive care and automobile insurance plans are available.

Blue Cross

VCDSA operates an insurance medical plan for all of its members and provides Blue Cross PPO, EPO, and HMO healthcare plans. The Blue Cross network is one of the largest in California, comprising more than 40,000 PPO physicians and over 400 hospitals. For information about your health benefits call VCDSA directly or use these Blue Cross website resources.

Retiree Medical Reimbursement Trust |

The Retiree Medical Reimbursement Trust provides payments for medical premiums for our retired members. In addition, all members of our bargaining unit are covered by a long term disability insurance program for injuries on or off the job, as well as a $15,000 life insurance benefit.

State and National Associations

All members of the Association are automatically enrolled in PORAC, headquartered in Sacramento. PORAC provides a forum for improving the status of peace officers in the state and the nation. They lobby at the state and national levels on bills of interest to members and sponsor excellent training seminars for labor leaders and members of law enforcement unions.

Fraternal, Social, Benevolent and Educational Activities

VCDSA sponsors events throughout the year as a benefit for members and families, such as station barbeques, a competitive firearms match, fund-raising concerts and sporting events. The Association also reimburses members' fees at the annual Law Enforcement Games and other organized team sports activities. Additionally, VCDSA hosts seminars for members on topics such as use of force, legal issues updates, peace officers' bill of rights, stress reduction, effective communication techniques and other topics of interest.

Publications

The Association publishes a monthly newsletter, the RapSheet and Benefactor, using our in-house desktop publishing and printing system. The Rap Sheet keeps members informed of Association business and social activities. The Benefactor is full of information about group insurance and benefit programs offered to VCDSA members and their families. VCDSA members can call or email to start receiving the Rap Sheet and Benefactor. Our e-mail address is vcdsa@vcdsa.org. The VCDSA office is open Monday through Thursday from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm, and Fridays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Tri-Counties Police Products |

As a member service, VCDSA operates a store at the Association office which carries patrol items such as batons, handcuffs, Qwik-Codes, flashlights, holsters and other leather gear. VCDSA logo merchandise such as T-shirts, ball caps, sweatshirts and lapel pins are also available at less than retail prices. Members may also rent pagers for a small bi-monthly fee through a payroll deduction. Visit our Store page for ordering info and printable form.