History of the SPOA

In March 12, 1969, the Sacramento Police Officers’ Association was formed at a meeting held at Luther Burbank High School. A preliminary set of by-laws was adopted and four temporary officers were elected to serve until October, 1969. Fifty-four members were initiated upon the payment of the three dollar 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 April 3 as the next meeting date. 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 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.

Today SPOA has over 1,000 members made up of active, associate, reserve, retired and honorary members. 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 15 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. (Their picture may not look the same after the first term.) Who was president when you joined as a member?

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 - 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. When you became a member, where was SPOA located?

900 8th St	926 J Street	901 F Street	117 J Street
2020 J St	517 19th St	3520 5th Ave	2617 Capitol Ave
201 Lathrop Way, I	2620 21st St	2014 Capitol Ave	550 Bercut Drive