The Santa Ana Police Officers Association was incorporated in 1948 and is comprised of sworn and non-sworn Santa Ana Police personnel, retired police personnel, and reserve officers of the Santa Ana Police Department.
Our Association was originally incorporated in 1948 as the Santa Ana Police Benevolent Association. As its name implied, the main purpose of the Association was to provide officers with an opportunity to socialize and share job related stories. A 'flower fund' was established to provide assistance to our officers and their families in times of catastrophic need.
Over the years the loosely knit fabric of this association came together as an elected Board of Directors, and was given the task of leading this association into the role of a full service employee organization. In 1983 our members chose to change the position of Association President to one of full time release from police department duties. With this change the Association President could now focus his attention entirely to the needs of the members and the task of leading the Association through the necessary changes it would encounter in the future.
As the role of the police officer has changed over the years, so has the role of the Association. In 1990, the name was changed to the 'Santa Ana Police Officers Association', to better reflect the status and function of the organization. As in the past, the Association continues to host social events like the ever popular annual summer picnic and end of the year retirement party. In keeping with our long history of helping our members with catastrophic needs the Association hosts charitable events such as our annual golf tournament and variety show which bolster our Widows and Orphans charitable fund. Our Association has evolved over time from being a social organization to a full service employee labor association. Today, our primary focus is to negotiate the wages, benefits and working conditions for our 500+ members. Our goal is to provide a positive influence in every aspect of our member’s professional life.
Our Association provides medical, dental, vision, life, long term disability insurance and legal assistance benefits to our members through comprehensive insurance and representation programs. We are proud of the fact that we provide one of the best benefit packages available in our profession. Our Association also recognizes that issues concerning our members are decided on all levels of government. We have created and maintain a professional Political Action Committee, complete with a legislative lobbyist in Sacramento, to protect our interests and concerns through the legislative and political process at the state capitol and here at home.
Our Association recognizes the importance of networking with organizations locally, statewide and across the nation who share a common interest in law enforcement and public safety labor issues. The Santa Ana Police Officers Association maintains membership in the following organizations: California Coalition of Law Enforcement (C.C.L. E.A.), Southern California Alliance of Law Enforcement (S.C.A.L.E.), California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation (C.P.O.M.F.), International Union of Police Associations (I.U. P.A.), Orange County Coalition of Police and Sheriffs (O C Cops) and the Public Employees Staff Organization (P.E.S.O.).
Our commitment to the community has been long time evident. In 2001 our Association began providing annual scholarships to our local high schools. It was our vision to provide scholarships to those students who had faced adversity during their High School years and had prevailed to graduate but now faced economic hardship that may prevent them from continuing their education. Our partnership with our city goes far beyond just protecting our community. We have sponsored many city, school, youth and charitable programs and causes in the city of Santa Ana. We believe it is important to contribute back to this community and will continue our involvement in the future.
Over the past five decades the Santa Ana Police Officers Association has grown from a good idea amongst a couple friends to one of the most respected organizations of its kind. Our strong foundation, built on our past, will lead us into the future. A future in which we are committed to providing the best possible service to Santa Ana’s finest, the men and women of the Santa Ana Police Department.
The Santa Ana Police Officers Associations was incorporated in 1948 with the following objectives:
To associate persons employed by the City of Santa Ana who are engaged in the profession of law enforcement and to represent them as, and in, an organized body;
To encourage, promote, and advance the professional and educational welfare of it's members and all persons engaged in any type of law enforcement work;
To encourage the improvement and advancement of the economic and social welfare of its members;
To represent it's membership in all matters pertaining to employer-employee relationship;
To achieve these and all other purposes and objectives through legislation, legal, and all other appropriate means beneficial to the collective membership of the Association;
To protect the rights of the Association.
Member Services:
Insurance
Legal Team
SAPOA Widows and Orphans Fund
The Santa Ana Police Officers Association Widows & Orphans Fund, founded in 1978 to assist the families of officers that have suffered catastrophic needs, been injured or killed in the line of duty. The S.A.P.O.A. Widows & Orphans Fund has helped those in their time of need not only here at the Santa Ana Police Department, but officers and their families across the county, state and nation. This fund has also provided scholarship opportunities to those officers’ children. This fund is recognized as a Charitable Organization as defined in section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, Tax I.D. 33-0840920.
Request for Support Guidelines (81.8 KB)
http://www.santaanapoa.com/media/cms_page_media/9/WO%20Fund%20-%202009%20Request%20For%20Support%20Guidelines.pdf
