Advisory Committee Members

The POST Advisory Committee performs a key role as part of the Commission’s team by providing a two-way communication link between the Commission and organizations that share an interest in the Commission’s work.  The committee meets prior to each Commission meeting to review and analyze topics the Commission will later address.  Advisory Committee members represent associations and organizations within the California law enforcement community, educators, and the public-at-large.  Therefore, they provide valuable input on many contemporary and evolving issues in law enforcement, helping the Commission and POST better serve California's peace officers and the citizens they protect.   Appointed by the Commission for a term of three-years, Committee members receive no compensation but they are reimbursed for their expenses for attending meetings.

Portrait of Walt Allen III

Advisory Member

Walt Allen III

California Academy Directors’ Association (CADA)

Biography

Walter is a 44-year law enforcement veteran and initially served as a Police Officer II and SWAT Team member with the Chino Police Department. He also served as a Special Agent and eventually the Assistant Chief for the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

In 2003, Walter was appointed by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Director of the California’s Youth Offender Correctional System, the California Youth Authority. He also served as the Governor’s Chief of the Office of Correctional Safety (OCS) for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in 2005. In 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Walter to the POST Commission where he served as a Commissioner for 4 years. Since 2014, Walter has served as the Director of the Rio Hondo Police Academy at Rio Hondo College in Whittier, California, overseeing police academy training for newly hired police recruits from law enforcement agencies throughout Southern California. Walter is presently a City Council Member for the City of Covina, marking his 22nd year on the Covina City Council and he served as the Mayor in 2019 for the 4th time.

Walter possesses a BS Degree in Urban Planning from Cal Poly University and a Master of Science Degree in Law Enforcement Executive Leadership from California Southern University. He is a graduate of the Rio Hondo Police Academy, Class No. 36, the California Department of Justice Special Agent Academy and the 172 nd Session of the FBI National Academy.

Portrait of Anthony Coronado

Advisory Member

Anthony Coronado

California Highway Patrol (CHP)

Biography

Tony Coronado currently serves as the Chief of the Personnel and Training Division which has responsibility for the following commands with the California Highway Patrol (CHP): Academy, Cadet Hiring and Recruitment Section, Human Resources Section, Selection Standards and Examination Section, and Organizational Development Section. The responsibilities of this Division include development of training programs supported by the most contemporary adult learning concepts, which includes the professional development of employees at all ranks. Additionally, through a broad based recruitment effort and a strict adherence to a merit -based selection process, the Division strives to employ a comprehensive hiring and selection process.

Tony Coronado holds a bachelor’s degree from California Coast University, Irvine, in Criminal Justice. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years prior to transitioning into CHP. He has worked several different assignments ranging from road patrol, training, auto theft, canine, and Academy Commander.

Portrait of Anthony Coronado

Advisory Member

Chela Cottrell, M.S., CMCP

Citrus Heights Police Department

Biography

Chela Cottrell is a 20-year law enforcement veteran who initially served as a Dispatcher at the Scotts Valley Police Department in Santa Cruz County. Later she served as a Community Services and Correctional Officer for the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office. Subsequently she served for the thirteen years as a Dispatcher, Communications Training Officer and Communications Supervisor for the Citrus Heights Police Department. The experience she gained and expertise she developed in those roles prepared her for her current role as the Police Services Manager of the Communications center and Operations division in the Citrus Heights Police Department. She is focused on promoting training and tactics to enhance policing both within and outside the organization.

Recognized as a dispatch subject matter expert, Chela has participated in several projects ensuring that POST has remained dedicated to their mission of continually enhance the professionalism of California law enforcement in serving its communities.

Chela possesses a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing from the University of California Santa Cruz and a Master of Science Degree in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego. She is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute Class #490 and the National Emergency Number Association Center Manager Certification Program.

Portrait of Rick DiBasilio

Advisory Member

Rick DiBasilio

Calaveras County Sheriff's Office

Biography

Appointed Sheriff of Calaveras County since May 2016 and resident of Calaveras County for 40 years, Sheriff DiBasilio leads the mission to provide competent, effective public safety services to all persons with the highest regard for human dignity through efficient, professional, and ethical law enforcement and crime prevention practices.

Sheriff DiBasilio started with the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office in 2002.  He has worked a variety of assignments including Patrol, Investigations and Narcotics. Prior to being elected as Sheriff of Calaveras County in November 2018, Sheriff DiBasilio had worked as a Patrol Sergeant and a Detective assigned to Homicides, Elder Abuse, Sexual Assaults and General Property Crimes. He was also a former School Resource Officer, Bike Team member, Sheriff’s Explorer Advisor, Background Investigator, Departmental Instructor, SWAT Team member and Gang Investigator.

Sheriff DiBasilio has continued to ensure effective communications across county agencies, first responders and the general public.

Portrait of Kathy Oborn

Advisory Member

Kathy Oborn

California Association of Administration of Justice Educators (CAAJE)

Biography

Professor Kathleen Oborn was appointed to the position of president of the California Association of Administration of Justice Educators (CAAJE), representing the administration of justice/criminal justice faculty throughout the state. As part of her CAAJE responsibilities, she also serves on the California Community College State Chancellor’s Education Advisory Committee and was elected vice-chair.

During her 25+ years in higher education, she has served in a multitude of positions such as Associate Dean, Academic Senate President and department chair. Her M.S. in Educational Psychology and Counseling and her B.A. in Sociology were both earned from California State University, Northridge, and her A.A. degree in Criminal Justice is from Pierce College. She has been a tenured professor of criminal justice at Pierce College since 2002 and teaches part time in the Criminology and Justice Studies program at CSU Northridge. Since 2008, she has served as the district chair for Criminal Justice for the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD). She is also a course reviewer for criminal justice curricula for the California community colleges.

Kathleen started her public safety career in 1983 when she was hired as an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Community College District Police Department. She is also a Los Angeles County Reserve Deputy Probation Officer, a certified Crime and Intelligence Analyst through the California Department of Justice and a member of many criminal justice organizations such as the International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA) and the American Society of Criminology.

Portrait of Jason Salazar

Advisory Member

Jason Salazar

California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA)

Biography

Chief Jason Salazar was appointed as Chief of Police for the City of Visalia on February 17, 2015.   Chief Salazar has served with the Visalia Police Department for 26 years holding assignments in patrol, investigations, and SWAT.   As a Lieutenant, he held command of the Special Enforcement Bureau, which included Gangs, Narcotics, and SWAT.   As Captain, he held command of both the Operations and Support Divisions.

Chief Salazar holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership Studies, a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership, and an Associate Degree in the Administration of Justice.  He is a graduate of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Leadership Program, the Senior Management Institute for Police, and POST Command College Class #55.  Chief Salazar also serves as a board member for the Tulare County Mental Health Board and is actively involved in his community.

Portrait of Julie Spry

Advisory Member

Julie Spry

Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC)

Biography

Julie Spry is a seventeen-year veteran of the Los Angeles School Police Department. In 2013, she was promoted to her current rank of Sergeant. During her tenure at the department, Sergeant Spry has worked a variety of assignments, including being the officer in charge of the Social Media Team, Community Relations, the department’s Public Information Officer, day and night patrol, and the burglary suppression unit. She is also a current member of the department’s Honor Guard. Sergeant Spry has distinguished herself not only as an innovator and leader but an integral part of the school community.

Sergeant Spry currently serves as a Director for the Los Angeles School Police Management Association and holds various other titles within the police department and school district.

Portrait of Juan Viramontes

Advisory Member

Juan Viramontes

California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations (CCLEA)

Biography

Juan Viramontes is a sergeant with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He began his career in 1995, and has since served in a variety of positions, including in the jails as a sergeant at the Intake/Release Center (IRC) and as a deputy at the Theo Lacy Facility. He has worked Patrol in Stanton, North Operations and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) plainclothes right-of-way team. He has also been assigned to both Harbor Court and West Court.

Juan currently sits on several boards, including Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge Trustee, Trustee of Medical and Insurance Benefits Trust, California Coalition of Law Enforcement Associations, and California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation Scholarship Committee.

Since March 2020, Sergeant Viramontes has been the President of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS). As an active AOCDS member since 1998, and AOCDS Board Member since 2012, he works closely with the units he represents – the Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney’s Office, Probation Department, and Parks.

Portrait of Benjamin Therriault

Advisory Member

Benjamin Therriault

Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC)

Biography

Benjamin Therriault was born and raised on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Western Montana. After graduating from high school in 2000, Ben enlisted in the United States Air Force at age 17. Ben served for 6 years in the US Air Force Security Forces, deploying three times, and is a decorated veteran of the Iraq War.

Honorably discharged, Ben pursued a childhood dream of being a police officer, joining the Richmond Police Department in January 2009 where he is currently a Sergeant.

During his law enforcement career, Ben has held numerous special assignments and instructor positions. His special assignments include Crime Free Housing Officer, Regulatory Detective, Bicycle Officer, Gang Detective, and various violence reduction street teams.

Ben is a POST Certified Taser and Defensive Tactics Instructor and EVOC Instructor. He has served as a Field Training Officer, Mobile Field Force Grenadier and Crisis Negotiation Team member.

He has been the President of the Richmond Police Officers Association since January 2016 and the Bay Area PORAC Director since 2018. Ben was appointed to the Richmond Reimaging Public Safety Task Force in 2020, the Martinez Refinery Company Oversight Committee in 2023 and the Martinez Civil Service Commission in 2024.

Ben serves on three nonprofit boards focusing on youth: Richmond Police Activities League (RPAL), Center for Youth Development through Law (CYDL), and The Richmond Fire and Police Holiday Toy Program. He is a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Contra Costa 100 Club.

Ben has a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of San Francisco and is currently a candidate for a master’s in public administration, also from the University of San Francisco

Portrait of Brent Stalker

Advisory Member

Brent Stalker

California Association of Police Training Officers (CAPTO)

Biography