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The Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association (SCDSA)
is the bargaining unit that represents more than 1,800 law enforcement
employees. These are the men and women working the streets, jails,
courts and many other positions that make up the Sacramento County
Deputy Sheriff’s Department.
The Association fosters a productive relationship between rank-and-file
members and department managers, and is involved with several non-profit
organizations, to promote a positive relationship between the community
and Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs.
The evolution of the Sacramento County
Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
has mirrored the growth and development of the Sacramento metropolitan
area and of the Sheriff’s Department.
SCDSA began in 1950 with the department’s entire staff totaling
less than 50. Being as charitable as possible, the working conditions,
equipment and salaries can only be described as inadequate.
Despite these less than ideal conditions, morale and spirits remained
high. The intrinsic camaraderie found in most law enforcement communities
drew the officers together. During their frequent informal social
gatherings, common problems and interests were discussed and "war
stories" were exchanged. Several of the regulars decided to organize
the group and to invite everyone in the Department to take part.
The idea caught on and within one month virtually everyone had joined.
The organization began as a social club. Ray Lagomarsino was elected
as President of the club and served for two years. During this administration,
the Association was Incorporated and registered with the Secretary
of State as a Non-Profit Corporation. To register with the state,
a formal title was necessary and the name “Sacramento County
Deputy Sheriffs’ Association” was born.
Collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, officer’s rights
and political action were still years away. The Association’s
major accomplishment of this early period was a fundraising dance
held to raise money to help the dependents of slain officers. The
recognition and public attention generated by this effort planted
the seeds of awareness and unity among the workforce and, as the
years went by, the Association became increasingly active on behalf
of its membership.
As the decade of the ’60s came to a close, the concern over
the civil unrest, which plagued this nation during that turbulent
period caused the public to grow more aware of the need for better
trained and better paid public safety employees. Local governments
wanted more soldiers to satisfy the voters, but they were really
not that interested in granting higher salaries and more benefits.
As 1970 dawned, the winds of change were about to blow on the Sacramento
Sheriff’s Department.
The incumbent Sheriff at the time was John Misterly. In the June
primary, numerous candidates entered the race for Sheriff. When the
smoke cleared, Misterly had failed to gain a majority, forcing a
November run-off election with second place finisher Duane Lowe.
For the fist time in its 20-year history, SCDSA, under the leadership
of President Zane Mannering, took a public position against the incumbent
Sheriff and endorsed Lowe. Misterly lost the November election, and
Duane Lowe was elected to the first of his three terms in office.
With a Sheriff they had elected in office, the relationship between
the administration and the workforce became more cordial, and Association
leaders began to concentrate on increasing benefits and services.
During 1971, the first collective bargaining
sessions began between the Association and the County. However,
negotiations with Sacramento County increased in difficulty as
the ’70s continued, which
allowed the SCDSA to mature from its social club heritage into a
full service labor organization.
Today, SCDSA is recognized as one of the most powerful and influential
police associations in California. Numerous organizations from around
the nation have used copies of our collective bargaining agreements
and our governing documents as a model for their own association.
Based on the many victories of SCDSA’s colorful 35-year heritage,
the future looks bright indeed.
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