The POST Commission

Geoff Long served 33 years with the California Legislature, most recently as Policy Director for Senate President pro Tem Kevin de Leon. Geoff served as Chief Consultant to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for 20 years under seven chairs, where he also was responsible for all criminal justice legislation. Prior to Appropriations, Geoff served as Chief Consultant to the Assembly Budget Committee and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, where he was also responsible for all criminal justice legislation and budgets.

In the State Assembly, Attorney General Bonta enacted nation-leading reforms to inject more justice and fairness into government and institutions. As the People's Attorney, he sees seeking accountability from those who abuse their power and harm others as one of the most important functions of the job. In elected office, he has taken on powerful interests and advanced systemic change — pursuing corporate accountability, standing up for workers, punishing big polluters, and fighting racial injustice. He has been a national leader in the fight to transform the criminal justice system, banning private prisons and detention facilities in California, as well as pushing to eliminate cash bail in the state. He has led statewide fights for racial, economic, and environmental justice and worked to further the rights of immigrant families, renters, and working Californians.

Prior to serving in the Assembly, Attorney General Bonta worked as a Deputy City Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, where he represented the City and County and its employees, and fought to protect Californians from exploitation and racial profiling.

Born in Quezon City, Philippines, Attorney General Bonta immigrated to California with his family as an infant. He is the son of a proud native Filipino mother and a father who taught him the value of public service to his community. He is married to Mia Bonta, and they are the proud parents of three children Reina, Iliana, and Andres, as well as their dog Legolas.

Alan Barcelona leads the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association, CSLEA, an organization that is the central thread in the public safety net of California. Mr. Barcelona took over CSLEA when it was on the brink of bankruptcy and turned it into a solvent, cohesive organization with a mission and purpose that have earned it the respect of governors and lawmakers in Sacramento. In addition to his duties as president of CSLEA, Mr. Barcelona is also a Special Agent for the California Department of Justice (DOJ).

Prior to becoming a DOJ agent, he was a Senior Investigator for the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Mr. Barcelona started his law-enforcement career in 1981 as a Stanislaus County Deputy Sheriff, where he served as a Jail, Patrol, and SWAT Team officer. He also has taught at two police academies, Modesto Junior College and Delta Junior College in Stockton, CA.

Mr. Barcelona received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of San Francisco, CA, and his M. Ed. from the University of La Verne, CA.

Sheriff Ingrid Braun has served as the Sheriff of Mono County since December 2014. She began her career in law enforcement in 1990 with the Los Angeles Police Department, retiring in 2011 at the rank of Lieutenant. Sheriff Braun has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. Sheriff Braun is also a member of the State 9-1-1 Advisory Board.

Shannan Moon was elected to her first term as Sheriff, Coroner, Public Administrator of Nevada County in the November 6, 2018, general election. In June 2022, Nevada County voters re-elected her to a second term through 2028. She is a thirty-four year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office. As Sheriff, she serves as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of Nevada County.

Sheriff Moon rose through the ranks at the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, and has served as a Correctional Officer, Transportation Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Major Crimes Detective, Narcotics Detective, Bailiff, K9 Handler, Search and Rescue Coordinator, Crisis Incident Negotiations Team member and Commander, Field and Jail Training Officer, Sheriff’s Sergeant, Sheriff’s Lieutenant, and Sheriff’s Captain.

She is the first women in the history of the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office to be elected as Sheriff, as well as the first woman promoted to Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain in the agency.

Sheriff Moon is a life-long resident of Nevada County, graduated from Nevada Union High School, and possesses a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice management. She holds an Executive Certificate from the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST), the highest of the seven professional certificates for peace officers.

Sheriff Moon is on the Executive Board of Directors for the California State Sheriff’s Association, whose mission is to support the role of Sheriff as the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in all 58 counties and to speak as a collective voice on matters of public safety in California.

Sheriff Moon is also on the Board of Directors for Bright Futures for Youth, a local non-profit organization committed to addressing the ever-changing needs of youth in Nevada County.

She is on the Board of Directors at the California Peace Officers Memorial Foundation, a non-profit whose mission is to recognize and honor California peace officers who gave their lives in the Line of Duty serving the citizens of this great state.

Sheriff Moon has a passion for our community and has a proven track record in her everyday commitment toward improvement. Her leadership direction is engrained in the importance of staying connected and responsive to neighborhood issues, developing employees, building relationships, and planning for our future.

Sheriff Moon lives in south Nevada County with her wife Amy, a Nevada County Probation Officer, and their three daughters.

P. Lamont Ewell has over 35 years in the public sector and possesses a unique blend of service. He began his career in Southern California as a firefighter and was ultimately appointed as Fire Chief for the City of Oakland. During the latter part of his tenure with the City of Oakland, he served as Acting City Manager. He went on to successfully serve as City Manager for the cities Durham, North Carolina, San Diego and Santa Monica. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an Executive Master degree in General Administration.

Chief Kelly Gordon began her law enforcement career with the Los Angeles Police Department in January 1996. In January 2017, she was hired by the Monterey Park Police Department as a Captain and in March 2020, she was named as the Chief of Police for the Monterey Park Police Department.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly University and a master’s degree in Leadership from Saint Mary’s College. She is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy and Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute.

Kelly is the sitting 1st Vice President of the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Association, Treasurer of the San Gabriel Valley Chiefs Association, member of the California Police Chiefs Association Training Committee, and the California Police Chiefs Association representative on the League of Cities’ Housing, Community and Economic Development Policy Committee.

Rick Braziel was a member of the Sacramento Police Department for over 33 years including 5 years as Chief. He consults and instructs in Teambuilding, Communications Skills, Community Policing, and Leadership. Rick is an Executive Fellow at the Police Foundation. He was the lead investigator in the review of the police response to Christopher Dorner. He was part of a team reviewing the riots in Ferguson Missouri and the St. Louis County Police Collaborative Reform Initiative. Rick also completed a review of the Stockton Police response to the Bank of the West robbery and hostage taking. Rick is co-author of the book, Cop Talk: Essential Communication Skills for Community Policing .

Sheriff Tina M. Nieto has served as the Monterey County Sheriff Since Dec 2022. When she was sworn in as the elected Sheriff in 2022, she became the first Latina Sheriff in California’s history. Prior to her becoming the Monterey County Sheriff, she served over 5 years as the Chief of Police of Marina, Ca.

Tina began her career in law enforcement in 1989 with the Los Angeles Police Department, retiring in 2017 as a Commanding Officer. Sheriff Nieto also served with the United States Army Reserve attaining the rank of Captain. Sheriff Nieto currently serves on the NGEN Board, the Emergency Management Services Board, and the Monterey County Domestic Violence Coordination Council in Monterey County. She also serves on the state’s Homeland Security Advisory Committee that advises in the development and implementation of the State’s Homeland Security Strategy.

Sheriff Nieto also volunteers in her off-time and currently serves on the Board of the Hospice Foundation, is a Rotarian, an Elk Member, a Moose Member, and an American Legion Member in Monterey County. Sheriff Nieto received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton and her Master’s degree in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne.

In June 2022, Sheriff Jim Cooper was elected to become Sacramento County’s 37th Sheriff. Before being elected as Sheriff, in November 2014, Sheriff Cooper was elected to the California State Assembly to represent Assembly District 9, which includes the cities of Sacramento, Elk Gove, Galt, and Lodi. On his first day in office, Sheriff Cooper was appointed to serve on a leadership team as Assistant Majority Whip and later appointed Assistant Majority Leader. Sheriff Cooper served as Chair of the Public Employees Retirement and Social Security Committee and the Assembly Select Committee on Community Law Enforcement Relations and Responsibilities. Sheriff Cooper also served on several committees, Governmental Organization Committee, Insurance Committee, and Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration. While in the Assembly, Sheriff Cooper was appointed as the California Peace Office Memorial Legislative liaison.

During Sheriff Cooper’s tenure in the Assembly, he was appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly to serve on the California Crime Victims’ Memorial Review Committee. The Committee oversees the design, construction, and maintenance of a memorial in Capitol Park to honor California residents who are victims of crime. Additionally, Sheriff Cooper was appointed to serve on the Public Safety committee of the Council of State Government (CSG-WEST).

Sheriff Cooper has an extensive background in law enforcement and local government. Before joining the Assembly in 2014, Sheriff Cooper served as a Captain in the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department for 30 years and spent 15 years as Elk Grove’s founding mayor and councilmember. He established solid governing values, balanced the city’s budget, and built a city from the ground up.

Sheriff Cooper has earned numerous awards, including the Bronze Star for Bravery for actions during the 1991 “Good Guys” hostage crisis. He also spent four years working as the Department’s spokesperson and nearly a decade as an undercover narcotics officer and gang detective.

Community service is a significant part of Sheriff Cooper’s life. He has served on the Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Wind Youth Services, and the Sacramento Children’s Receiving Home boards.

Sheriff Cooper grew up in Sacramento and where he raised his four daughters. He is a graduate of the West Point Leadership Academy and FBI National Academy. He earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Saint Mary’s College.

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

Justin Doering is a Ventura County native and began his career with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in 2011. Justin worked as Traffic Cadet learning collision investigations while attending California State University, Channel Islands. In 2014, Justin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology before successfully completing the Sheriff’s Academy and being promoted to a Deputy Sheriff.

During his career as a deputy, Justin worked a variety of assignments within custody operations, including the Classification and Risk Assessment Unit. Justin later transferred to East County Patrol Services where he worked patrol in the City of Thousand Oaks and served as a Field Training Officer (FTO).

Justin worked as a detective with the Special Enforcement Unit focusing on organized crime where he was dually sworn as a Task Force Officer (TFO) with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In 2023, Justin was promoted to a Senior Deputy Sheriff and served as a frontline supervisor for custody and patrol operations. Justin is currently assigned to the County of Ventura’s newly formed Organized Retail Theft Task Force.

Justin is a certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and POST Certified Academy Instructor, currently teaching DUI enforcement to new patrol officers across the county.

He is the current Vice President of the Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association (VCDSA) and serves on the Board of Directors with the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC).

Justin is active in his community involvement and volunteers his time at many different local events. He is also a graduate of the Ventura County Leadership Academy (VCLA).

Jake Johnson has been a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer for 23 years.

He is currently serving his second term as the elected President of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP).

The CAHP is the largest state police labor union in the nation, with over 16,000 members. Commissioner Johnson previously chaired the impactful CAHP Labor Relations Committee.

He has also served as a member of the CAHP Legal, Legislative, PAC, Department Safety, and Wellness Committees.

Commissioner Johnson has spent his entire law enforcement career working in a patrol capacity.

His patrol assignments have taken him from the Bay Area to Santa Cruz, then to the Central Valley, and into Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Commissioner Johnson has previously held assignments as a Field Training Officer, Law Enforcement Trainer, Gang Liaison, Drug Recognition Expert, and Special Response Team Member. He earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and an Associate of Arts degree, both from California schools.

Commissioner Johnson believes in volunteerism and has mentored at-risk youth in the police explorers’ programs in Oakland, San Francisco, and Santa Clarita. Johnson has also volunteered at community food banks, participated in homeless outreach, and served as a youth sports coach. Commissioner Johnson is honored to have been appointed by Governor Newsom to the POST Commission.

As a First Responder, Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (Ret.) was awarded the California Star of Life Award (2015), for his outstanding lifesaving rescues and his many contributions to the community. In 2005, Freddie journeyed to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to help the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Freddie was elected to the Pomona City Council twice. On the City Council, he improved public safety, expanded Neighborhood Watch Programs, created new jobs as a result of the economic development projects he championed, and delivered balanced budgets while protecting city services during tough economic times.

He led the effort to restore firefighting positions in Pomona, ensuring each shift was fully staffed and firefighters were properly equipped to respond to all fire and emergency calls. A leader in helping jumpstart the local economy, Freddie brought together community and business leaders to help revitalize downtown Pomona, generate new economic investment, and create new jobs.

Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez was elected to the State Assembly in 2013 where he immediately introduced legislation to secure local control of the Ontario International Airport, extend the Metro Gold Line to San Bernardino County and help Emergency Responders develop standard operating procedures to better respond to active shooter situations.

An advocate for public safety in the Assembly, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Rodriguez’s Assembly Bill 69, which established best practices and procedures for the download and storage of police body camera footage.

He was also successful in passing legislation that instructs the California Department of Transportation to study and help prevent deadly wrong-way driving accidents.

In 2015, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx appointed him to the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC).

Later that year, Freddie was also awarded the Eleanor & Theodore Roosevelt Democrat of the Year Award by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.

Freddie lives in the City of Pomona with his wife, Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez.

They have four children, Desirae, Freddie Jr., Vincent, and Selena, and three grandchildren, Jayden, Jacob and Tanner.