On the Job with PORAC

In this episode, we shine a light on POREF – the Peace Officers Relief and Education Foundation – which has been serving our law enforcement family for decades. President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with Oakland POA Board Member Ryan Goodfellow and PORAC Executive Committee Member Mike Pruger to discuss recent POREF events and how the organization has impacted their own PORAC chapters. This foundation isn't just another nonprofit; it's our way of taking care of our own through memorial services, financial relief when officers and families hit hard times, and scholarships that invest in our children's futures. If any members are interested in volunteering with POREF or learning more about how to get involved with the foundation's work, please contact your PORAC regional representatives on the Scholarship Committee or the PORAC office directly. This National Police Week, let's remember that honoring the badge means standing by every family that sacrifices for it. Transcript - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zCIiT3tnzv_HE8XNbGsYGXbHkcn0DwbB3_eN3WqVdSQ/edit?usp=sharing Connect and Learn More Brian Marvel Twitter: https://x.com/BrianMarvel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianmarvel/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brian.R.Marvel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmarvel/ Ben Therriault Twitter: https://x.com/BenTherriault LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btherriault/ Resources ● POREF Open: https://porac.org/events/poref-open/ ● POREF Website: www.porac.org/programs-services/poref/ ● Scholarship Application: www.porac.org/programs-services/poref/scholarship-application/ ● National Police Week Information: www.policeweek.org ● California Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony: www.camemorial.org ●POREF Donation Page: www.porac.org/programs-services/poref/donate/ #porac #poracalifornia #peaceofficers #lawenforcement #publicsafety #policeweek #peaceofficersmemorial

Women in law enforcement bring measurable, evidence based advantages to modern policing the data shows female officers experience fewer use of force incidents and more successful de-escalation outcomes. In this episode of the "On the Job" podcast, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault lean into the "R" in PORAC—Research. We discuss how women officers strengthen public safety and the barriers they face in the profession with Dr. Tanya Meisenholder of the 30x30 Initiative and PORAC Board Member Veronica Limon. Our guests provide insight into how traditional requirements for peace officers can be thoughtfully adjusted while maintaining rigorous standards and opening up the recruiting pool to qualified women who have been historically under represented. For law enforcement leaders, policymakers, and public safety advocates, these insights offer a roadmap to increasing female representation in ways that strengthen departments and better serve communities. The research-backed strategies discussed demonstrate that recruiting more women officers isn't just about addressing historical challenges—it's about enhancing public safety through proven approaches to improve modern policing. Transcript - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QAzhaax3u4r8MFgT0TxzFXEe-Inq7FMeTix3LR_f0-o/edit?usp=sharing Connect and Learn More Dr. Tanya Meisenholder LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-meisenholder/ Brian Marvel Twitter: https://x.com/BrianMarvel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianmarvel/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brian.R.Marvel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmarvel/ Ben Therriault Twitter: https://x.com/BenTherriault LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btherriault/ Resources ● 30x30 Initiative Website: https://30x30initiative.org/ ● 30x30 Initiative LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/30x30-initiative/ ● PORAC Women in Law Enforcement Issue Brief: https://porac.org/wp-content/uploads/2025-PORAC-Women-In-Law-Enforcement-Brief.pdf #porac #poracalifornia #peaceofficers #lawenforcement #publicsafety

In this episode, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault celebrate PORAC's historic victory in securing passage of the Social Security Fairness Act (HR 82) while providing members with information about what the law means for their retirement benefits. Through conversation with Darryl Nirenberg, PORAC’s lead federal lobbyist at Steptoe, who was instrumental in building congressional support for the legislation, the episode will walk members through how PORAC contributed to this major win after 40 years of tireless advocacy. The episode will also outline what active and retired officers need to know about implementation timelines, eligibility, and the restoration of Social Security benefits. Connect and Learn More Darryl Nirenberg, federal lobbyist at Steptoe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darryl-nirenberg-b3a9333/ Website: https://www.steptoe.com/en/lawyers/darryl-nirenberg.html Brian Marvel Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brian.R.Marvel Twitter: https://x.com/BrianMarvel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianmarvel/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmarvel/ Ben Therriault Twitter: https://x.com/BenTherriault Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btherriault/ Resources Will the New Social Security Fairness Act Change Your Benefits In 2025? | Kiplinger Social Security Fairness Act Signed into Law - California Statewide Law Enforcement Association San Francisco Chronicle - Why California is likely to be one of biggest beneficiaries of new Social Security law Police 1 - Social Security Fairness Act signed into law, boosting retirement benefits for police, firefighters Social Security Fairness Act: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) update Social Security Administration Contact Information #porac #poracalifornia #peaceofficers #lawenforcement #publicsafety

In this episode, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with Legislative Advocate Randy Perry to discuss the end of the legislative session in Sacramento. 00:00 - Intro & Looking at the Past Two Years 03:35 - What Legislative Advocates Do 08:30 - Bills From Past Two Years of Legislative Session 19:15 - Shifts in Legislature Moving Forward Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ziglI2CNgzp-HQ0ufm49FMc07HHYKrj7TNs7MZDdpg4/edit?usp=sharing Connect and Learn More: Randy Perry Website: https://www.aaronread.com/ Brian Marvel Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brian.R.Marvel Twitter: https://x.com/BrianMarvel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianmarvel/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmarvel/ Ben Therriault Twitter: https://x.com/BenTherriault Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btherriault/

In this episode, we introduce our newly elected Vice President, Ben Therriault. Ben joins the podcast to discuss his background, his journey in law enforcement, and his vision for the future of PORAC. We'll explore his leadership experiences, key priorities for his tenure, and his commitment to advocating for peace officers across California. The goal of this episode is to allow listeners, PORAC members and others, to get to know Ben and to provide valuable insights into Ben’s vision for the direction of our organization. Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Rh9bXSwZh4xDSxCAs6qMYevB0QfrxVuPIw-k-CEdOHg/edit Connect and Learn More Brian Marvel Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brian.R.Marvel Twitter: https://x.com/BrianMarvel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianmarvel/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmarvel/ Ben Therriault Twitter: https://x.com/BenTherriault Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btherriault/ Resources: Ben Therriault – PORAC Profile #porac #poracalifornia #peaceofficers #lawnenforcement #publicsafety

In this month’s episode, Brian Marvel and Damon Kurtz sit down with Wade Stern of the Federated University Police Officers’ Association (FUPOA) and Matt Kroner of the Statewide University Police Association (SUPA) to discuss the challenges faced by university police departments in responding to on-campus protests that turn violent, such as restrictive university policies, anti-police bias among faculty, and staffing shortages. Discussion Topics ● The Role of Campus Police ● Challenges Faced by University Police in Responding to Violent Protests ● Balancing First Amendment Rights with Public Safety ● Proposed Solutions for Ensuring Peaceful Protests and Campus Safety: A Collaborative Approach 00:00 - History of Campus Protests 04:50 - Relationship Between Campus Admin and Law Enforcement 08:15 - Campus Protests and Professional Agitators 16:00 - Campus Security Guards vs Police Officers 22:10 - What Can Be Done to Keep Campuses Safe? Download the full transcript of the episode here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kkFEXw_ml7yMLTlFR49c8hoN1HyGX5kt/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=110396220408817199408&rtpof=true&sd=true Guest Bio – Wade Stern Wade Stern is President of the Federated University Police Officers’ Association, which represents over 250 police officers over the 10 campuses of the University of California Police Department. Wade is a police corporal with the University of California Police Department, where he has served for the last 22 years. Guest Bio – Matt Kroner Matt Kroner is president of the Statewide University Police Association (SUPA), which represents California State University police officers, corporals, and sergeants from all twenty-three CSU Police Departments from San Diego to Humboldt. Matt has been president since 2021 and is passionate about serving SUPA’s members. Matt is a sergeant with the Sacramento State Police Department and has over twenty-three years of experience as a sworn police officer with the CSU PD. Connect and learn more about SUPA, FUPOA, Brian, and Damon SUPA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SUPA.CSU/ Twitter: @CSUSUPA FUPOA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FederatedUniversityPOA/ Instagram: @federateduniversity.poa Brian Marvel Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brian.R.Marvel Twitter: https://x.com/BrianMarvel Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmarvel/ Damon Kurtz Instagram: @damonkurtz Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damon.kurtz.1 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damon-kurtz-681921172/ Resources: ● Debating Police Tactics in Response to Campus Protests ● https://www.npr.org/2024/05/08/1248935672/campus-protests-police-arrests ● Pro-Palestinian Protests Spreading Across California Campuses ● https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-01/pro-palestinian-protests-tensions-spread-across-california-college-campuses ● At U.C. Berkeley Ceremony, a Student Protest Draws in Hundreds ● https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/11/us/uc-berkeley-protest-graduation.html ● Police Tactics at Campus Protests Reveal Disparities in Approached to Public Order and Lessons Learned Post-George Floyd ● https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/police-tactics-at-campus-protests-reveal-disparities-in-approaches-to-public-order-and-lessons-learned-post-george-floyd/ar-BB1lQCe2?ocid=BingNewsSearch ● Police Carry Out Complex Choreography in Campus Protests Response ● https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/police-carry-out-complex-choreography-in-campus-protests-response/ar-AA1o6Wfk?ocid=BingNewsSearch ● University of California Police Union Blasts UCLA Admin for ‘Lack of Response’ to Violence at Campus Protests ● https://www.foxnews.com/us/university-california-police-union-blasts-ucla-admin-lack-response-violence-campus-protests #porac #poracalifornia #peaceofficers #protests #campusprotests

In today’s episode, Brian Marvel sits down with Tim Talbot of the RLS Law Firm and David Mastagni of Mastagni Holstedt Law Firm to discuss a significant legal victory in the realm of law enforcement rights and privacy. 00:00 - Overview of the Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA) 03:30 - Filing the Injunction & Aftermath 05:20 - Officer Privacy Double Standard? 08:15 - Other Agencies Involved 10:44 - Recruitment & Long Term Affect 13:10 - Where Litigation Sits Now ● Overview of the Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA) regulations that force peace officers to disclose their gender identity when reporting the outcome of a traffic stop. ● The attorneys who successfully fought against these regulations shed light on the implications of overreaching Department of Justice policies on law enforcement professionals and the LGBTQ+ community. ● The RIPA gender disclosure requirement contradicts the privacy standard AG Bonta declared regarding school teachers and parent notifications of a student's gender identity. ● Implications for officers and how the regulations infringe upon the constitutional rights of peace officers, particularly their right to privacy as well as violate California’s civil rights law and the Fair Employment and Housing Act. ● The impact on recruitment and retention efforts within the law enforcement profession as well as other potential long-term consequences. ● Explanation of the legal intricacies surrounding PORAC’s temporary restraining order (TRO) against the DOJ and pending settlement and next steps in the legal process. ________________________________________ Connect with Host Brian Marvel ● https://www.facebook.com/Brian.R.Marvel ● https://twitter.com/BrianMarvel ● https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmarvel/ Guest Bio - Timothy K. Talbot Timothy K. Talbot is a principal at Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver, PC (“RLS”). He serves as RLS’s co-managing principal, responsible for all firm operations. In addition, he manages the firm’s Sacramento office and is a member of the Collective Bargaining Practice Group. Tim has practiced labor law for more than 25 years. He specializes in representing and advising labor organizations in all aspects of traditional labor relations, including contract negotiations, grievances, unfair labor practices, bargaining unit certifications and modifications, mediation, and arbitration. Tim also represents individual peace officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other employees in disciplinary matters, internal affairs investigations, critical incidents, Department of Energy security clearance investigations and hearings, and professional licensure matters. Connect and learn more about Tim and RLS: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-talbot-a84277250/ https://rlslawyers.com/ Guest Bio - David E. Mastagni David E. Mastagni is a partner with the Labor Department of Mastagni Holstedt, APC. He specializes in labor and employment law representation, including trial and appellate litigation in California and federal courts. David is also an experienced PORAC Legal Defense Fund panel attorney and is admitted in U.S. District Court, Southern, Eastern, Northern, and Central Districts of California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. David devotes his legal career to labor and employment litigation, with an emphasis on representing public safety representatives and their members in all aspects of their employment. Connect and learn more about David and Mastagni Holstedt, APC: https://twitter.com/DavidEMastagni https://www.linkedin.com/in/mastagni/ https://www.mastagni.com/ ________________________________________ Resources: PORAC Press Release: ​​Court Grants Temporary Restraining Order Halting Forced Gender Identification Requirements for California Peace Officers LGBTQ Nation: California judge blocks new rule that would forcibly out trans police officers San Francisco Chronicle: Judge halts new California law requiring pol