ARTICLE IV

Membership

Section 1.              Submission of Application.  Any person desiring membership in the Association under Article III hereof shall file his application with the Executive Director giving his name, position, residence, date of birth, and whatever additional information or documentation as is reasonably required in order to assess an applicant’s eligibility for membership.

Section 2.              Plenary Authority of Executive Board.  Upon receipt of the application, the Executive Director shall refer the same to the Membership Committee which shall make the necessary inquiry as to the applicant’s qualifications and personal fitness for membership.  The Membership Committee shall vote upon the applicant and submit its findings and recommendation to the Executive Board, but the Executive Board shall have the plenary authority to grant or deny membership to any applicant, and shall otherwise have the plenary authority to decide all questions regarding eligibility for membership in the Association.

Section 3.              Classes.  The Association shall have six classes of membership: Active, Affiliate, Active Life, Honorary, Business and Associate.

Section  4.             Active Membership.  “Active” membership shall be open to the following: 

(a) All full-time sworn chiefs of police, superintendents, or commissioners of municipal police agencies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who have police powers and MPOETC Certification;                                   

(b) All full-time sworn municipal police officers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who have police powers, MPOETC Certification and hold the rank of captain or above and persons who hold the rank of Captain or above that are members of the Pennsylvania State Police;                               

            (c) Special agents in charge, assistant special agents in charge, and resident agents of any law enforcement entity of the United States government if, at the time of application, such persons are headquartered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and; full-time persons with command-level responsibility in any law enforcement agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided that these individuals are not elected to their position by a popular vote of citizens.  In addition, this provision is applicable to those persons who have command level responsibility delegated to them by an individual who is elected to their position by a popular vote of citizens.  This section may apply to command level positions in the following agencies:

(1)  Attorney General’s Office

(2)  Fish and Game Commission

(3)  Racing Commission

(4) Gaming Control Board

(5)  County Detectives

(6)  Port Authority

(7)  Railroad

(8)  Airport

(9)  Federal (FBI, POSTAL, DEA, etc.)

(10)  University/Colleges

(11)  School Districts

(12)  Capitol Police

The Executive Board shall have plenary authority in determining qualification in all cases.

(d) All full-time sworn municipal Police officers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who have police powers, MPOETC Certification, command level responsibility and hold the rank of lieutenant;  Provided:

(1)  Are sponsored for Membership by their agency’s Chief of Police, Superintendent, or Commissioner who is a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.

(2)  Such sponsorship may be rescinded at any time by the Chief of Police, Superintendent or Commissioner in Office.  Since the sponsorship is a qualification for Active Membership, upon notification of removal of sponsorship, or if a member admitted under section (f) is reduced in rank below the rank of lieutenant, the Member shall be immediately removed from the Active Membership of the Association, with no right of appeal.

All Active members shall be residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Such members shall have a right to attend the Association’s Annual Meeting and shall have or exercise the privilege of voting on all matters of Association business arising thereat.  Members in good standing who have retired from their position qualifying them for membership may retain their Active Member status by continuing to pay dues until Active Life Status is achieved.

Section  5.             Affiliate Membership.   “Affiliate” membership shall be open to those persons who, by occupation are Chiefs of Police who work part time, Police Officers In Charge of Police Departments,  Directors of Police Agencies, and Ranking officers who have a supervisory role in a police department. This category also includes agency heads of Corporate Security and Police

Section 8.              Business Membership.   Individuals, organizations, companies or private agencies who donate at least $500.00 shall be designated a Business Member.  The Executive Committee and the Board of Directors shall determine appropriate methods of recognition for this class of member.  Business/Corporate members shall not hold office in the Association and under no circumstances shall such members have or exercise the privilege of voting on Association business.

Section 9.             Associate Membership.  Individuals, organizations, companies or private agencies who donate any sum less than $500.00 shall be designated an Associate Member.  The Executive Committee and the Board of Directors shall determine appropriate methods of recognition for this class of member.  Associate Members shall not hold office in the Association and under no circumstances shall such members have or exercise the privilege of voting on Association business.

Section 10.            Restriction on or Revocation of Membership.  The Executive Board shall have the plenary authority to restrict or revoke the membership of any Association member who is convicted of or pleads guilty to the commission of a felony or a misdemeanor, or who otherwise acts in such a way as to bring disrepute upon the Association in the opinion of the Association’s Executive Board.