Local 685: Exposing the Truth, Defending Our Members
- Local 685 Executive Board
- 3 hours ago
- 11 min read
There’s a lot to report this week – and every story underscores just how much is at stake for Local 685 members, our union, and our communities. From exposing the collapse of field supervision, to fighting dangerous legislation, to calling out contractors who waste taxpayer dollars, Local 685 is on the front lines and on the attack.
Here’s what’s inside this issue:
EXTRA! EXTRA! Body Scanners Coming to Los Padrinos and Barry J. Nidorf – New scanners are being installed to intercept contraband. (Includes FAQs and safety details.)
Local 685 Exposes Field Supervision Collapse – The Daily Breeze confirms what we’ve been saying: 21,800 probationers, fewer than 120 officers. This crisis was manufactured by the Chief’s reckless decisions.
SB 357 Threatens Our Jobs and Jeopardizes Public Safety – Local 685 and our union partners take a united stand against this reckless, union-busting bill. Read proposed amendments below.
Audit Exposes $249,000 in Improper Billings at ARC – A County audit shows DYD contractors misused taxpayer dollars while probation remains dangerously understaffed.
Status of the Upcoming Receivership – Attorney General Bonta’s filing moves forward. Here’s what members need to know.
County-Wide Bargaining Update – Where negotiations stand – and how we are preparing to fight back against County attacks on civil service protections.
It Matters: Members’ Voices – DSOs share powerful stories of camaraderie, training, and the lessons that shape our work.
Labor Day 2025 – Celebrate solidarity at the 46th Annual Harbor Labor Coalition Parade & Picnic.
Local 685 is exposing the truth, defending our members, and leading the fight. Read on.
EXTRA! EXTRA! Body Scanners Coming to Los Padrinos & Barry J. Nidorf
The installation of new body scanners is underway at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall and Barry J. Nidorf Secure Youth Treatment Facility. This rollout follows a directive from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors aimed at enhancing safety and preventing contraband from entering the facilities. (Click here to read notice and extensive FAQs.)
How the Scanners Work
Unlike X-ray machines, these scanners use radio frequency technology to scan the surface of an individual’s body. The system creates a simple “avatar-style” image that highlights areas where metallic or non-metallic items may be concealed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this body scanner safe?
Yes.
What technology does the system use?
The scanners (ES3 model) use active and passive millimeter wave imaging, a proven non-ionizing technology. This method detects anomalies by analyzing wave reflections off the body. The system only generates a generic silhouette for threat detection – it does not produce detailed anatomical images.
How often will these scanners be tested and maintained?
The scanners will be tested and maintained annually to ensure they continue meeting all safety standards.
Local 685 Exposes Field Supervision Collapse
Brothers and Sisters,
This week, the Daily Breeze ran a hard-hitting story exposing what we have been saying all along: Los Angeles County’s probation field operations are in crisis because of decisions made by this Chief. Read it here.
At Monday’s POC meeting, the Department admitted the numbers: 117 officers left in the field, supervising 21,800 probationers. That’s an average of 186 cases per officer — and in the San Gabriel Valley, the ratio has ballooned to an outrageous 715 to 1.
Local 685 Vice President Dwight Thompson said it best:
“This is unsustainable and dangerous. Field deputies are responsible for monitoring high-risk offenders in our neighborhoods, maintaining relationships with schools, therapists, community groups, and law enforcement. That cannot be replaced with a quick fix.”
The Chief Manufactured This Crisis
Let’s be clear: this staffing disaster didn’t “just happen.” It was created by the Chief when he ordered long-serving field officers with light-duty restrictions home without pay. For decades, Local 685 members working in the field worked safely and effectively. The Chief ripped us away from our jobs and our communities, gutting the field offices and leaving probationers unsupervised.
A $1 Million “Mutual Aid” Scam
Instead of bringing back experienced officers, the Department now wants to pay $1 million a year to train outside police to do probation work. Not a single agency has stepped up – and for good reason. This is not a job you can learn in a few weeks. Field deputies need years of probation experience and specialized training to keep communities safe.
This plan is a joke. It’s a waste of taxpayer dollars. And it’s a direct insult to every probation officer who has dedicated their career to this work.
Misuse of AB 109 Funds
We also confirmed that AB 109 realignment dollars are being misused. The Department is paying officers with those funds, but instead of doing AB 109 work in the field, we’ve been dumped into juvenile halls. That’s not what the law allows – and it leaves even fewer officers where they’re needed most.
Officers Are Breaking Their Backs
With offices stripped bare, remaining deputies are working overtime and weekends just to try and hold things together. Meanwhile, probationers are falling through the cracks – and public safety is at risk.
Local 685 Will Not Back Down
Our union will keep exposing the reckless decisions of this Chief. We will keep fighting to bring members back into the field. And we will not stop until probationers and the public get the supervision and safety they deserve – and our members get the respect they’ve earned.
Stay strong. Stay united. We are on the attack, and we are not letting up.
From the Desk of the Chief Steward
SB 357 Threatens Our Jobs and Jeopardizes Public Safety – Read the Coalition Response
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Local 685, together with our union partners in the Coalition of L.A. Probation Unions, has taken a firm stand against Senate Bill 357 (Menjivar). This deeply flawed legislation threatens to dismantle the juvenile division of the Probation Department, outsource vital work to unvetted private contractors and temps, and strip away union protections for thousands of public servants – all under the false banner of reform.
That’s why we joined with the presidents of AFSCME Local 1967 and SEIU Local 721 to send a joint letter to Senator Menjivar, offering concrete amendments and a real path forward. We are calling for reforms that protect both youth and victims, safeguard the workforce, and improve outcomes through transparency, training, and community-based collaboration – not union busting.
Click here to read the letter with our recommended amendments.
I encourage every member to read and share this letter with your networks. Our jobs, our rights, and the safety of our communities are on the line.
Audit Exposes $249k in Improper Billings, Lax Oversight at ARC
A County audit has revealed troubling misuse of taxpayer dollars by the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), a Department of Youth Development (DYD) contractor paid to provide “Credible Messengers” services inside juvenile facilities. (Click here to read audit.)
The findings are damning:
Improper Subcontractor Billing – $249,000 with No Proof of Services
ARC billed the County – and was reimbursed – $249,000 for subcontractor services that were never delivered in accordance with the contract.
The subcontractor was supposed to provide daily programming at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall. Instead, ARC claimed the money covered “start-up costs,” even though the contract did not allow billing before services began.
ARC failed to provide even the most basic proof – no sign-in sheets, no progress reports, no documentation that youth ever received the services taxpayers paid for.
The Auditor-Controller bluntly stated that ARC must either document the services or repay the money.
Weak Internal Controls – A Setup for Waste and Abuse
The audit also found ARC’s financial controls were so weak they left County dollars at serious risk:
ARC’s Finance Director was allowed to both cut checks and reconcile bank accounts – a textbook conflict that opens the door to fraud.
Bank reconciliations didn’t match accounting records, weren’t reviewed on time, and in some cases weren’t reviewed at all.
ARC left more than $6,200 in unresolved transactions hanging for up to 21 months.
Why It Matters to Members
This is not just sloppy bookkeeping – it’s a direct diversion of resources that should have gone to public safety, staffing, and services that probation officers and the community depend on.
While probation facilities remain dangerously understaffed, ARC was allowed to bill nearly a quarter of a million dollars for services it could not prove were delivered. Weak oversight and lack of accountability only make matters worse.
Next Steps
ARC has “agreed” to the findings and promised fixes. But promises don’t undo the damage already done. DYD and the Board of Supervisors must be held accountable for ensuring taxpayer dollars are not wasted on contractors who fail to deliver.
Local 685 members know firsthand what happens when resources are squandered: unsafe staffing levels, broken programs, and youth left without the guidance they deserve.
Status of the Upcoming Receivership
This is to provide additional information regarding Attorney General Bonta's filing for application for appointment for receivership of the juvenile division of the Los Angeles County Probation.
The Los Angeles Superior Court website shows that this matter is set for September 16, 2025, at 9:30 am in Department 34 of the LA Superior Court (Stanley Mosk Court).
County-Wide Bargaining Update
By Don Washington, Labor Negotiations Attorney
To date, there have been no settlements reported among bargaining units in the Coalition of County Unions, SEIU Local 721, or the independent unions.
Bargaining with County management continues to be slow and difficult. Recently, the County announced through the press that it intends to pursue changes to the County Civil Service Rules.
At least two to three members of the Board of Supervisors have also indicated an interest in making changes to the Deputy Probation Officer MOU (Unit 701) that would make it easier to fire employees or unilaterally alter contract provisions. Local 685 has made it clear: we will fight any attempt by the Board of Supervisors – or by a court-appointed Receiver – to undermine our contract or erode the rights and protections members have won at the bargaining table.
Given the uncertainty, I am recommending that bargaining be paused until a Receiver is formally appointed and the court clarifies the scope and authority of that role, including how it may affect Adult Field Services and other operations of the department.
In the meantime, we are preparing to present information to the Receiver and to request a formal meeting on behalf of the Executive Board. Our focus will be to highlight County management’s ongoing failure to hire and retain staff – a failure that has created unsafe working conditions for members and undermined services to the community.
Cookie Lommel Presents:
It Matters – Taken from the Members’ Voice
Members want their voices to be heard and their stories to be told. As part of the “It Matters” series, members share meaningful memories and experiences from their time working in probation. If you think of a story about a fellow member who has passed, a moment when you bonded with a co-worker, or simply something that captures who you are in this probation atmosphere, we invite you to share. Many members have said they want to be remembered In Their Own Words.
Today, we hear from Detention Service Officer Erik Munroy.
The Value of Camaraderie and Training
The one thing about probation that I have always held close is the camaraderie that develops between members – especially when you first start your career and go through training with veteran staff. I was trained by many different people, but every senior member who trained me made sure I understood all the protocols and procedures. Becoming a probation officer is not just about passing a test – it’s about learning how to deal with the youth we supervise, helping them understand themselves, and guiding them to see how their actions affect others.
We would talk through how to handle different situations before we ever took the first steps. I learned a tremendous amount from fellow officers who had already faced challenges in the halls. Their stories weren’t just tales; they were lessons that helped me visualize how to handle incidents. Being a probation officer is not easy. The members I worked alongside gave me tools to recognize warning signs, read the cues of the youth, and find ways to calm situations before they escalated. That experience was a gift.
Unfortunately, today we see fewer veteran members on the line. Too often, new staff are being trained by other new staff. That shift takes away the unique experience of learning from those with years of service, which is what truly shapes members into officers who can guide youth toward a better path as part of a strong community.
A Difficult but Transformative Case
I once worked with a young man who was notorious for assaulting staff. He constantly disrespected female officers and cursed at everyone – even his own mother over the phone. His entire identity was rooted in gang life. For a long time, it seemed impossible to reach him.
Then one day, something clicked. After a few days away, he came back different. I was finally able to convince him that he could talk to people differently – that if he was feeling overwhelmed, he could simply ask to go to his room until he calmed down, then come back and rejoin the group. That shift didn’t happen overnight, and it certainly didn’t come from just one officer.
What many people don’t realize is that by the time we got him, he was already 15 years old and had been in the system for two years. Half of his life had already been spent behind institutional walls. His entire sense of survival and identity was tied to incarceration. Without positive guidance outside the institutions, it was almost inevitable that he would struggle to change course. He’s now in County jail, still part of the system.
This was one of the most challenging experiences of my career, but also one of the most transformative. It showed me the power of persistence, support, and genuine connection – even when change feels impossible.
The Importance of Accountability and Support
In the probation units, officers know rehabilitation is an ongoing process. Understanding each youth’s unique personality and circumstances is crucial. Just as important is the support they receive outside of detention – because without it, even the progress they make inside can be lost.
The lessons members learn from veteran staff, the camaraderie they build, and the accountability they model are critical. These skills are passed along from member to member, and ultimately, to the youth. Teaching young people to manage emotions – whether by taking a break, talking it out, or finding a healthier outlet – gives them tools they can carry beyond the walls of detention.
One of the most important parts of probation work is accountability. Sadly, today we see a lack of accountability in the institutions, and that has changed everything. But for those committed to the work, accountability remains the foundation – for ourselves, for one another, and for the young people we serve.
Happy Labor Day!
by Larry Barragan, Chairman, Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Labor Coalition
On Monday, September 1, 2025, the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Labor Coalition will celebrate the 46th Annual Labor Solidarity Parade and Picnic Rally. We are proud to celebrate such a significant milestone as this will be our 46th Anniversary!
L.A./Long Beach Harbor Labor Coalition 46th Annual Solidarity Parade & Picnic
Monday September 1, 2025
Parade line up area is located at 510 Broad Ave., Wilmington CA 90744
Working people across America are facing many challenges in the workplace, specifically artificial intelligence (AI). The question is how will AI affect working class people and their unions? We are now facing the reality of AI at the bargaining table; most recently the Writers Guild strike and SAG-AFTRA faced this threat. AI will create job loss and economic hardship to many communities.
Collective bargaining is the most powerful instrument against AI, along with demanding inclusion in the design, development, and implementation of such technology. We must protect workers’ rights as AI technology and robotics are not vested in our communities, nor do they pay taxes, pension, health and welfare funds. We must bargain cautiously and protect the future of the labor movement at all cost!
Please join us on September 1, 2025, as we celebrate our 46th Anniversary. Our theme this year is:
Fighting for The Future of Labor! We encourage you to participate in our Best Decorated float contest; trophies will be awarded. Be creative, festive, and original!