History of CCPOA
In 1972, thirty officers from Northern California law enforcement
agencies met in Concord, California. During the meeting the
advantages of sharing strategies and concepts within the crime
prevention field were discussed. This initial meeting resulted in
the creation of the Northern California Crime Prevention Officers
Association. Also during 1972, the first national crime prevention
institute was established at the University of Louisville.
Law enforcement agencies throughout the country were becoming deeply
involved in crime prevention. California, however, was rapidly
becoming a leader in the field. In 1974, a formal crime prevention
training course was developed by the California Department of
Justice Peace Officers Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.), and the
California Crime Prevention Institute was established at California
Polytechnic University in Pomona, California. Officers from the
entire State of California attended the first class at the
California Crime Prevention Institute. Through the exchange of
information and ideas several officers from Southern California
proceeded with the concept of establishing an association in the
southern part of the state.
Later, in 1974, several agencies met and formulated plans and
organizational structure for the Southern California Crime
Prevention Officers Association. On October 5, 1975, a crime
prevention training conference was held at the Queensway Hilton
Hotel in Long Beach, California. Members of both the SCCPOA and the
NCCPOA attended the conference during which the officers from both
organizations met with the common goal of uniting both associations
into the California Crime Prevention Officers Association. The
merger was unanimously approved by each group's membership, and
comprehensive By-Laws were adopted establishing organizational
structure for the association and its chapters. In 1982, articles of
incorporation were filed with the Secretary of State allowing the
CCPOA to function as a non-profit benefit organization effective
January 1, 1983.
The dedicated individuals who founded the California Crime
Prevention Officers Association had the goals of providing a
platform for the cooperation and exchange of information throughout
the state. Today the CCPOA maintains a strong membership of over 450
and provides a leadership role in the crime prevention field within
the State of California. The California Crime Prevention Officers
Association is under the leadership of a six-member State Board of
Directors, elected by its membership. The state is organized into
two chapters (North and South) and each of these chapters is divided
into five regions. Regional Directors oversee the operations of the
regions while the three Chapter Officers, who are elected for
two-year terms, direct the chapter functions and also serve on the
State Board of Directors.