"Every day the Sheriff's Department works extremely hard in cooperation with community leaders to keep our county and cities safe," said Sheriff Lee Baca. In strengthening this commitment, Sheriff Baca announced that Los Angeles County residents and businesses are invited to become associate and business members of the California State Sheriffs' Association.

California State Sheriffs' Association (CSSA), is a professional law enforcement organization that was established in 1894 to provide the Sheriffs' of California with a unified voice on matters of public safety. Through collective participation, the CSSA is able to bring resources and knowledge together to provide the highest level of service to the residents of California. Through community participation in CSSA, California Sheriffs are able to work with the Legislature to enact tough laws against crime and implement sensible improvements in our criminal justice system.

In the near future, the California State Sheriffs' Association will begin a membership drive in California. The CSSA will conduct a mass mailing of invitations to residents and businesses of the State to join CSSA as associate or business members. Sheriff Baca said, "I support the CSSA campaign. My signature will appear on each of the mailings sent to addresses in Los Angeles County." The additional funding generated by the associate and business memberships will be used to provide important technical resources, training, and legislative support on key criminal justice issues to the membership.

Thousands of the CSSA mailings will be sent to residents and businesses in Los Angeles County. Sheriff Baca said, "The California State Sheriffs' Association is dedicated to the preservation of peace and the protection of lives and property of the residents of California."

More information can be obtained by contacting the California State Sheriffs' Association at 1-800-761-2772 or www.calsheriffs.org.

SHB-17A-03 X X X X X X X X X X X X February 18, 2003