History

On March 12, 1969, the Sacramento Police Officers Association was initiated at a meeting held at Luther Burbank High School. A preliminary set of bylaws was adopted and four temporary officers were elected to serve until October, 1969. Fifty-four members were inaugurated upon the payment of their $3 initiation fee. Officers elected were: President, Richard Gregson (Gassaway); Vice-President, Joel Greenfield (La Due), Treasurer, Mike Guthrie (Traffic), and Secretary, Larry Hinds (Supplemental). Upon the resignation of the Association Treasurer, Mike Guthrie, the remaining Association officers selected Robert Austin (White) to serve as the temporary Treasurer until October, 1969.

SPOA Executive Officers met on March 19 at the home of President Richard Gregson (Gassaway) and set the date, April 3 as their next meeting. 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 were also on the agenda.

On March 21st President Gregson and Vice-President Greenfield met with Chief Rooney and presented him with a copy of the Association bylaws 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.

Today, SPOA is over 1,000 members strong, made up of active, associate, reserve, retired and honorary officers. Eleven elected Board Members carry out the duties and responsibilities of representing the membership on matters involving wages, benefits and working conditions, and also providing fraternal services and benefits that our members use professionally and personally.

Past and Present SPOA Presidents

Below are the SPOA members who have had the honor to serve as SPOA President. As you may notice, some members served as the Association’s President for multiple two-year terms; some of which later returned for separate terms as President.

Rich Gregson
1969

Blake Koller
1969-1970

Don Horger
1970-1972

Jim Jorgenson
1972-1973

Val Schiele
1973-1975

Bob Johnson
1975 – 1979

Val Schiele
1979-1983

Richard Lucero
1983 – 1985

Don Horger
1985 – 1987

Blake Koller
1987 – 1989

Jim Jorgenson
1989 – 1995

Gene Burchett
1995 – 1997

Steve Campas
1997 – 1999

Rick Rhodes
1999 – 2000

Victor Sanchez
2000 – 2001

Dave Topaz
2001 – 2005

Jerry Camous
2005 – 2007

Brent J. Meyer
2007 – 2011

Mark Tyndale
2011 – 2012

Dustin Smith
2012 – 2015

Timothy Davis
Current

Past SPOA Buildings

Here are the buildings that SPOA occupied and used as its home, from the first meeting place inside 900 8th St. back in 1969 to our currently-owned building at 550 Bercut Drive.