On the Job with PORAC

In this episode of On the Job with PORAC, PORAC President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with Dan Haley, Chief Legal Officer at Flock Safety, and retired San Diego Police Captain Jeff Jordan to discuss one of the fastest-growing and most debated public safety technologies in modern policing: Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) systems. As California lawmakers continue de...

In this episode of On the Job with PORAC, PORAC President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with attorney and police policy expert Bob Scales to discuss one of the most controversial issues facing modern law enforcement: federal consent decrees.   Drawing from PORAC’s report Evaluating Police Consent Decrees: From Compliance to Results, the conversation explores how these fed...

In this episode of On the Job with PORAC, PORAC President Brian Marvel sits down with RAM Chairman Chris Coulter to discuss the importance of staying connected after retirement and the continued value of PORAC’s Retired Associate Membership (RAM) program. The conversation highlights how RAM helps retired peace officers remain informed, engaged, and protected long after active service ends. Brian a...

In this episode of On the Job with PORAC, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with PORAC Legal Defense Fund (LDF) Chair Alan Kuboyama and National Executive Director Fred Rowbotham to break down one of the most important protections peace officers have today; PORAC’s Legal Defense Fund.   From its roots in officers “passing the hat” to defend their own, LDF was built...

In this episode of On the Job with PORAC, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with Steve Latham, Chair of the PORAC Insurance and Benefits Trust (IBT), and Damon Kurtz, IBT Recruitment & Retention Manager, for a comprehensive conversation about one of the most impactful benefits available to PORAC members. The discussion explores how IBT delivers health, disabilit...

In this episode of On the Job with PORAC, Brian Marvel sits down with Mark Nichols, Executive Director, and Juan Viramontes, President, of the California Peace Officers Memorial Foundation (CPOMF) for a powerful and forward-looking conversation centered on the expansion of the California Peace Officers Memorial.   The discussion highlights why the Memorial must grow to meet the needs of the future...

For California peace officers, retirement planning extends far beyond pensions. Access to affordable, stable health care after retirement remains one of the most significant concerns facing law enforcement professionals and their families. The PORAC Retiree Medical Trust (RMT) was created to address that challenge, providing long-term retiree health care solutions designed specifically for public...

The 2025 legislative year was one of the most dynamic in recent memory — marked by shifting political winds, high-profile public safety debates, and major legislative fights with direct consequences for California’s peace officers. PORAC successfully advanced key bills strengthening training, education, wellness, due process, and workers’ rights, while pushing back against proposals that undermine...

In this episode, PORAC President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with Manny Alvarez, Executive Director of POST, to unpack California Penal Code 830 – the foundation that defines who qualifies as a peace officer in the state of California. Together, they explore how PC 830 has evolved into a patchwork of statutes over the years, why it may be time to modernize and streamlin...

In the latest episode of On the Job with PORAC, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault set the record straight on Senate Bill 627 — a deeply flawed new law that eliminates crucial legal protections for local peace officers. Brian and Ben break down the misinformation surrounding the bill, explain why it is both unconstitutional and dangerous to public safety, and discuss how PORA...

In the latest episode of the On the Job With PORAC podcast, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault are joined by PORAC-endorsed CalPERS Board candidates Jose Luis Pacheco and Dom Bei. The conversation highlights their vision for ensuring California’s pension system delivers on its core promise: securing stable retirements for the fund's 2.3 million members. They discuss fiduciary...

In today’s ever-evolving political landscape, protecting the rights, benefits, and well-being of law enforcement professionals requires more than just strong representation—it demands strategic, proactive advocacy. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the legislative priorities shaping the future of California’s law enforcement community. PORAC President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Th...

In today's world, protecting those who protect and serve extends beyond physical safety—it also encompasses financial security. In this episode, we address a growing threat that's affecting law enforcement officers and their families: financial scams. President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with Jill Alves, Vice President of Account Management at CAHP Credit Union, to dis...

In this episode, we shine a light on POREF – the Peace Officers Relief and Education Foundation – which has been serving our law enforcement family for decades. President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with Oakland POA Board Member Ryan Goodfellow and PORAC Executive Committee Member Mike Pruger to discuss recent POREF events and how the organization has impacted their own...

Mental health challenges have been long overlooked in law enforcement. Despite increased awareness and resources, we continue to see alarming suicide rates among officers nationwide. Recent research suggests there may be a critical missing link – the connection between repetitive head trauma and mental health conditions. In our latest "On the Job with PORAC" podcast episode, we explore this vital...

Women in law enforcement bring measurable, evidence based advantages to modern policing the data shows female officers experience fewer use of force incidents and more successful de-escalation outcomes. In this episode of the "On the Job" podcast, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault lean into the "R" in PORAC—Research. We discuss how women officers strengthen public safety and...

Could SB 2 affect your career? What really happens during a decertification investigation? Does a complaint automatically mean your job is at risk? These are questions causing significant anxiety among California peace officers since POST gained decertification powers in 2022. In this must listen episode, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with the POST officials who...

In this episode, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault celebrate PORAC's historic victory in securing passage of the Social Security Fairness Act (HR 82) while providing members with information about what the law means for their retirement benefits.    Through conversation with Darryl Nirenberg, PORAC’s lead federal lobbyist at Steptoe, who was instrumental in building congress...

In this episode, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., Director of the federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office and keynote speaker at this year’s conference. The discussion focused on law enforcement's pressing challenges nationwide - from recruitment and retention to officer health and wellness and unpacked how fed...

In this episode, President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with Legislative Advocate Randy Perry to discuss the end of the legislative session in Sacramento. 00:00 - Intro & Looking at the Past Two Years 03:35 - What Legislative Advocates Do 08:30 - Bills From Past Two Years of Legislative Session 19:15 - Shifts in Legislature Moving Forward Transcript: https://docs.goo...

In this episode, hosts President Brian Marvel and Vice President Ben Therriault speak with Stockton POA Vice President Chris Sherman and David E. Mastagni with Mastagni Holstedt APC about Measure N, which would give binding arbitration in their City Charter and could have statewide implications if passed. They explain the measure, what it intends to do, and why it is beneficial. Transcript: https:...

In this episode, we introduce our newly elected Vice President, Ben Therriault. Ben joins the podcast to discuss his background, his journey in law enforcement, and his vision for the future of PORAC. We'll explore his leadership experiences, key priorities for his tenure, and his commitment to advocating for peace officers across California. The goal of this episode is to allow listeners, PORAC m...

Season 7, Episode 4 – Prop 47 Reform: Addressing California's Retail Theft Crisis In this month’s episode, President Brian Marvel and our new Vice President Ben Therriault sit down with Legislative Advocate Randy Perry and Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper to discuss the ongoing efforts to reform Prop 47 and address the alarming rise in organized retail theft in California. The discussion cover...

In this month’s episode, Brian Marvel and Damon Kurtz sit down with Wade Stern of the Federated University Police Officers’ Association (FUPOA) and Matt Kroner of the Statewide University Police Association (SUPA) to discuss the challenges faced by university police departments in responding to on-campus protests that turn violent, such as restrictive university policies, anti-police bias among fa...

In this episode, guests Mark Nichols and Juan Viramontes of the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation (CPOMF) discuss the Ceremony on the State Capitol grounds honoring fallen law enforcement officers before National Police Week, May 12-18. They also highlight the work CPOMF does to support the families of officers killed in the line of duty. ________________________________________ Conne...