Psychiatric Technicians Group Supports Phlunté Riddle for State Assembly – Pasadena Now

The California Association of Psychiatric Technicians (CAPT) has endorsed Dr. Phlunté Riddle, a former Pasadena police officer and current juvenile hearings commissioner, in her bid to represent District 41 in the State Assembly, Riddle said. 

Her campaign said the association, which represents nearly 14,000 state-licensed psychiatric technicians who work in state-funded programs for people with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities, announced its support for Riddle on Monday. 

“Dr. Phlunté Riddle uniquely understands the critical work psychiatric technicians perform and their role in addressing our state’s growing mental health crisis,” CAPT President Eric Soto said in a statement quoted by Riddle’s campaign. “The California Association of Psychiatric Technicians is proud to endorse Dr. Riddle for Assembly because she will advocate for more support for rehabilitation services and the workers who perform them.” 

Riddle said she was honored by the endorsement and pledged to work with the association to improve mental health care in the state. 

“Their members are crucial to addressing our state’s mental health,” Riddle said. “As an Assemblymember, I will ensure that workers have the support and resources they need to provide essential mental health services and rehabilitation for those who need it most.” 

Riddle is one of several candidates vying for the seat currently held by Assemblymember Chris Holden, who is term-limited and cannot run again in 2022. The district covers Pasadena and parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, including Altadena, Claremont, La Verne, Monrovia, Rancho Cucamonga, San Dimas, Sierra Madre and Upland. 

Riddle served nearly 30 years at the Pasadena Police Department, where she became the first African American woman to hold the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant and sworn adjutant to the chief of police. 

In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed her as a Board of Juvenile Discharge Hearings Commissioner with California’s Division of Juvenile Justice. 

Dr. Riddle owns a consulting company where she trains executives in solving generational communications challenges in their organizations. 

In Pasadena, Riddle served the Foothill communities as Assemblymember Holden’s District Director. She helped him expand the College and Career Access Pathways program that allows high school students to take college and vocational training courses. Together they also campaigned for expanding the Gold Line, mental health services, public safety, and cleaner energy. 

Dr. Riddle received her doctorate specializing in psychology from Phillips Graduate Institute. She holds an MA in Organizational Leadership from Woodbury University and a BS in Public Administration from the University of La Verne. 

Dr. Riddle is a graduate of the California Command College and of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. 

She has been married for over 40 years to her husband, Edgar. Together, they have three married sons and six grandchildren. 

For more information, visit www.phlunteriddleforassembly.com.