Board Meeting Update - June 2021
SGT. DOMINIC VACA MEMORIAL FUND
A memorial fund has been created in Sgt. Vaca’s memory and will be used to help his family.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
In this month's President's Message, Grant Ward honors our fallen officer, Sgt. Dominic Vaca and provides information regarding the memorial fund for his family.
DID YOU KNOW?
You can also receive this newsletter via your mobile device by signing up for SEBA text alerts in the Member Portal of the SEBA Website. By doing so, you'll also be eligible for a monthly prize drawing.
THIS MONTH’S WINNER
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
On January 10, 2021, Deputy Justin Reed (pictured left) was off duty, driving to work, when he came upon a traffic collision. Reed observed an unknown Samaritan running toward the vehicle, which had extensive damage from a traffic collision. When Reed approached the vehicle, he saw the rear was on fire and the driver was trapped in the vehicle as the fire spread.
The Samaritan tried to open the driver’s door and, when unsuccessful, Reed and the Samaritan rescued the driver and pulled her through the driver’s window, just as the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames.
The driver was transported to a hospital with minor injuries and survived due to Reed’s, and the Samaritan’s, lifesaving actions.
SEBA ON DEMAND - SPECIAL SERIES
Last month, we released a special four-part series of SEBA on Demand (see below) revolving around the shooting of our member Deputy Dustin Whitson, who miraculously survived an attempted murder on March 23, 2021 in Hesperia.
In the series we speak to Sheriff John McMahon, Deputy Cole Raynolds, Joelie Whitson (Dustin’s sister) and Deputy Robert Jahn about what happens when an officer is shot in the line of duty.
Also Available on Apple Podcasts
Alameda Decision
On May 6, 2021, the SBCERA Retirement Board heard oral argument via Zoom on SEBA’s contention that, if the Board excludes any items of pay from an employee’s pension calculation pursuant to the Alameda case, it must return all employee and employer contributions made on the excluded item, regardless of the date they were collected.
The SBCERA Retirement Board rejected this argument and will consider SEBA’s appeals concerning whether certain on-call and stand-by pay provided to distinct employees should be included in compensation earnable at a later date.
During the meeting, the retirement board stated its intention to return contributions made by employees, plus interest, from January 1, 2013 and July 30, 2020.
“To its credit, SBCERA is refunding contributions made by employees subsequent to January 1, 2013, when PEPRA was enacted,” read the opening brief filed by Jacob Kalinski from Rains Lucia Stern St. Phalle & Silver on behalf of SEBA. “It understands that it would be unjust to retain contributions made subsequent to that date for retirement benefits SBCERA will not provide.”
SEBA argued that SBCERA should return both the employee contributions and the County contributions to the employee, as SBCERA would be “unjustly enriched” if it were to keep money intended to be paid toward a retirement benefit.
Ultimately, the retirement board voted to deny SEBA’s appeal but reaffirmed their intent to pay back employee contributions during the specified time period.
Questions About On Duty or Off Duty Injuries?
We recently added a Frequently Asked Questions section to the Member Portal at www.seba.com. From "Am I Required to Provide a Fitness for Duty?" to "Who You Should Expect to Contact You," the page provides answers to questions we frequently receive.
If you have any further questions, you can always contact Labor Representative Melissa Burroughs at (909) 885-6074. Click on the image above to read more. You will be redirected to the SEBA Member Portal.
Cannonball Memorial Run Now Available!
Until a few weeks ago, our Cannonball Memorial Run documentary has only been available on Amazon Prime Video. Click on the video (to the left) or click here to hear their inspiring story.