On Thursday August 13, 2009 members of the Arizona Police Association met at the PLEA office. In a vote of 12 yes, 0 no, 5 abstains, and 3 absent, PPSLA was removed from the APA as a member.
The Arizona Police Association (APA) represents a group of like-minded individual and autonomous law enforcement employee groups. Along with PLEA, member groups of the APA include Glendale, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, MCSO Deputies and Detention Officers, Chandler, Buckeye, Avondale, Peoria, Goodyear, Corrections, Surprise, DPS, State Investigators (APOA), Peoria Supervisors, University and College police, and Border Patrol. These individual employee groups have the primary responsibility of representing their individual members on issues relating to wages, discipline, working conditions, benefits, employee rights and other similar issues that are commonly involved in the employee / employer relationship.
Through the combined effort and strengths of its member organizations, the APA is able to provide one large, amplified law enforcement “voice” within our community. The main function of this “voice” is to effectively communicate with and lobby the state legislature, our federal representatives, and when needed, local city and town councils, board of supervisors and individual employers. This communication and lobbying is focused upon the issues affecting the working law enforcement officer, whether these issues concern retirement benefits, adequate pay, adequate equipment, due process rights, effective law enforcement legislation, or the ability of law enforcement officers to be treated fairly. The APA is an organization of local law enforcement officers helping local law enforcement officers.
PPSLA is no longer a member of the APA.