Political Action

One Voice

Public safety should always be top priority!

AZCOPS congratulates La Paz County Sheriff Don Lowery (center) during a meeting of the AZCOPS Board of Directors at the La Paz County Sheriff's Department in early 2009. At left are AZCOPS President Larry Lopez and at right, Joe Escorza, president of La Paz County Deputies Association.

AZCOPS President Larry Lopez (left) and Director of Government Relations Luis Ebratt (right) with U.S. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (CD1). Ms. Kirkpatrick was endorsed by AZCOPS in 2008.

U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (center) received the AZCOPS endorsement and was re-elected Nov. 4, 2008.

See the list of AZCOPS-backed candidates who were successful in the General Election of 2008.

The Employee Free Choice Act is currently being considered by Congress. This Act will allow our national affiliate, the Communication Workers of America, to more effectively organize private sector workers. Without a strong private sector labor movement, there can be no strong public sector and public safety labor movement.

That is why AZCOPS is asking you to please support the Employee Free Choice Act. You can do this easily by filling out an on-line petition. In the drop-down menu, select local number 7077. Ask other AZCOPS members to complete the form as well.

Learn more about the Free Choice Act

Political Action

A Call for Political Involvement

(Posted: Oct. 22, 2009) AZCOPS General Counsel Martin Bihn speaks to AZCOPS members and association leaders at the AZCOPS Convention Oct. 17th about the urgency for political activism as the union focuses on upcoming elections and the next regular session of the Arizona Legislature. Bihn says AZCOPS will work hard to elect leaders supportive of public safety issues, and will work equally hard to defeat state officials who have turned their backs on officers.

REGISTER TO VOTE NOW! AZCOPS members must be registered to vote by Feb. 8, 2010, in order to vote in the March 9, 2010, elections.

Government Affairs

Luis Ebratt is Director of Government Relations and President of AZPOA

Luis Ebratt has been an Adult Probation Officer since 1973. He moved to Arizona from Pennsylvania in 1984 and became a supervisor in Adult Probation in 1986. In 1998, he established and became the first President of Arizona Probation Officers Association. After a brief retirement in 2001, he returned to the presidency in March 2004. In December 2004, Lu was appointed Secretary of the National Coalition of Public Safety Officers (NCPSO/CWA). On July 31, 2007, Lu retired from the Maricopa County Adult Probation Department, ending 34 years in the field. He now serves as both the full-time President of AZPOA and Director of Government Relations for AZCOPS.

Political News

Tucson POA campaigns for Proposition 200

AZCOPS members in and around the Tucson area were involved in a political campaign in fall 2009 to boost police staffing and improve response times for the Tucson Fire Department.

Proposition 200 was not approved by voters, but would have required the City of Tucson to provide 2.4 sworn police officers per 1,000 residents and adopt National Fire Protection Association 1710 standards by 2014.

Dining with Lawmakers

(Posted: August 14, 2009) The month of June provided AZCOPS leaders with the opportunity to thank many of the Arizona State Legislators who supported AZCOPS this past legislative year. AZCOPS leaders were honored to sponsor and attend both the Arizona Republican Party’s Governor’s Salute to the Legislature, and the Arizona Democratic Party’s 2009 Heritage Dinner. Legislators and leaders from both political parties were excited to have AZCOPS as a sponsor of their respective event.