When it all began…

Officers of the Association met on March 19, 1969 at the home of President Richard Gregson (Gassaway) and set April 3rd as the meeting date. The meeting was held at the Bank of America Community Meeting Room, 8th and I Streets, 7:30 PM. (Under the parking lot on the west side of 8th Street, near the alley I and J.) No significance should be attached to the fact that the meeting will take place underground! The meeting agenda included a proposal to amend the bylaws limiting membership in the Association to “sworn” personnel only. The formation of several working committees was also on the agenda.

On March 21, President Gregson and Vice-President Greenfield met with Chief Rooney and presented him with a copy of the Association by-laws and explained the objectives of the Association. Chief Rooney was receptive and expressed no objections to the Association as long as it was not a Union.

On March 25, the City Civil Service Board ruled on the request of Chief Rooney that the requirements for Police Lieutenant be changed to permit any officer with five years seniority on the Department to compete for the promotion. The Board approved the request and an examination date was set in the near future.

The State Printing Document Division made copies of the 1969 edition of the Police Officers Penal Code. The Code sold for $1.00. As a convenience, the Association took orders for copies of the Code and delivered them to the members at work.

During the last week of March, a group of police officer representatives of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) were at the State Capitol supporting legislation which up-graded municipal and county law enforcement retirement administered by the State Public Employees Retirement System. The bill was under consideration as AB 374.

And then it began as SPOA: April 3, 1969, Thursday, 7:30 PM, Bank of America, 8th and I Street.