In law enforcement, we take care of our own. That’s exactly why PPOA members established the Star & Shield Foundation (originally named the Professional Peace Officers Charitable Foundation) in 2001. Since then, the Foundation has proudly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support worthy organizations and causes. The most important of our missions is providing assistance to the families of fallen officers.
Try, for a moment, to imagine the challenges (emotional, financial and otherwise) facing family members of a peace officer suddenly killed in the line of duty. In addition to delivering immediate funds to the survivors, the Star & Shield Foundation helps navigate the pressing schedule of state-sponsored ceremonies honoring fallen officers. For years, the PPOA president has served as an escort for family members attending annual memorial ceremonies in Sacramento. Sometimes that means paying for airline tickets. It may also mean literally walking arm in arm with a grieving widow down the steps of the State Capitol building. Our Foundation will do as much as we can to offer support and friendship to those in need.
Star & Shield Foundation Board Members
- Steve Johnson (LASD)
- Jay Chapman (LADA)
- Rosario “Tony” Coleman (LASD)
- Joyce Kato (MEC)
- Chris Lee (LADA)
- Kevin Thompson (PPOA)
- Margarita Turpen (LASD, ret.)
Board of Governors
- Wayne J. Quint Jr. (PPOA)
- Gold Lee (Lewis, Marenstein, Wicke, Sherwin & Lee)
- Julie Sherman (Straussner ♦ Sherman ♦ Lonne ♦ Treger ♦ Helquist)
- Aaron Straussner (Straussner ♦ Sherman ♦ Lonne ♦ Treger ♦ Helquist)