South Carolina Police Chiefs Association: Constitution and Bylaws

CONSTITUTION

SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION

PREAMBLE

We, members of the South Carolina Police Chiefs Association, recognizing our responsibilities to the communities we serve and our obligations to society in general, and with knowledge that our profession requires the highest ideals and rules of conduct, hereby adopt the following code of ethics for police executives, and commend them to all persons in the police profession for their guidance:

1.                  We will put honesty, truth and justice above all other considerations, and we will not allow friendship, enmity, social position, political influence, nor personal motives to swerve us from the impartial performance of duty.

2.                  We will neither solicit, nor accept, any gift, privilege, favor or advantage from any persons, which will place us under any obligation to overlook any violation of a law, or will violate the ethics of our profession.

3.                  We will observe all provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the State of South Carolina, and will not deprive any person of any right guaranteed by these great documents. We will, at all times, endeavor to carry out the desires of the majority of citizens as legally expressed through proper legislature, judicial or executive channels of government.

4.                  Having efficient police administration as our objective, we recognize the need for professional fitness on the part of police executives and subordinates. We pledge ourselves to advance the science of police service through training courses and other methods adequate to meet the many requirements of our profession.

5.                  We will be fair with subordinates, showing only that favor which has been honestly earned by meritorious service to the public; demanding that all police officers perform their duties and enforce the laws with impartiality, judgment and courtesy.

6.                  Recognizing the mutual dependence of all law enforcement and other public agencies, we pledge our cooperation to all officials and agencies interested in the promotion of justice and the improvement of the general welfare. We will not allow envy, jealousy, or any other motive to interfere with such cooperation.

7.                  We recognize our responsibility to the press of South Carolina as a medium through which the public we serve can be kept informed of our activities and we solicit its support of all honest police endeavor and its condemnation of any act or policy detrimental to the best interests of society.

8.                  We desire for certification of each department as a means of improving law enforcement for professional recognition.

BYLAWS

OF THE

SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I

Name and Objectives

This organization shall be known as the South Carolina Police Chiefs Association.

ARTICLE II

Purpose

The purposes of the Association are:

  1. To advance the science and art of police administration and crime prevention.
  2. To develop and disseminate approved administrative and technical practices and promote their use in police work.
  3. To foster police cooperation, unity of action, and the exchange of information and experience among police officers of this State.
  4. To bring about recruitment and training in the police profession of qualified persons.
  5. To encourage adherence of all police officers to high professional standards of conduct.

ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1. ELIGIBILITY

            Within the Association, there shall be the following membership classifications: Active, Associate, Life, and Sustaining.

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP: Active membership in this Association shall be limited to full-time law enforcement chief executives engaging in the management of municipal, state, or federal law enforcement agencies in the State of South Carolina to include any chief executives of institutions of higher learning and airport police who are certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Training Council.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP: This membership is for the number two executive position within a department; i. e. when a Director of Public Safety has a Chief. The following persons shall be eligible for associate membership:

    1. All persons who are widows/widowers of active members in good standing at the time of his/her death.
    2. All persons not eligible for active membership, but who are qualified by training and experience in law enforcement or other law enforcement activity or by other professional attainments in law enforcement and criminal justice sciences.
    3. Associate members shall have all the privileges of active members except that of voting and holding office.
    4. Each applicant for associate membership shall be endorsed by an active member of the Association in good standing.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP: Life membership may be conferred upon any active members of the Association retiring provided he has been in the Association at least ten years (rev. 10/2005). This lifetime membership is awarded only by majority vote of the membership in attendance during a business meeting. Life members shall have the same voting privileges as active members but shall not be required to pay dues.

SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP: All persons or businesses who are donors of funds to the Association for the purpose of advancing, improving and bettering the law enforcement profession may be recommended to the Executive Board to become sustaining members of this Association under such rules as the Executive Board may establish and approve. If the recommendation is accepted by the person or business, such membership shall be with all privileges except that of holding office and voting.

Section 2. ELECTION TO MEMBERSHIP

(a)    All applicants for membership shall complete and sign the form of application provided by the Association and submit the application to the Treasurer. Such application shall include an agreement by the applicant to abide by the Association’s Standard of Conduct.

(b)    Admission of applicants for all classes of membership shall be by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

Section 3. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

(a)                Any member may resign from the Association by submitting a written resignation to the Executive Board. Such resignation shall be effective as of the date received by the Association, unless said resignation specifies another date.

(b)               Members of any classification may be removed from membership for cause by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board. For any cause other than non-payment of dues, removal shall occur only after the member against whomever complaint was made, has been advised of the complaint and has been given reasonable opportunity for defense; and such member, if removed, may appeal the decision of the Executive Board at the next general meeting of the Association, providing that notice of intent to appeal is submitted to the President at least ten days in advance of the meeting. The Executive Board shall be empowered to order suspension of any member upon receipt of a unified complaint of misconduct. The complainant shall be notified in writing.

Section 4. DUES

            Annual membership dues shall be due and payable on January 1st of each year. Sustaining membership dues are due and payable also on January 1st of each year. Dues will be established by the Executive Board and ratified by a majority vote of membership at the Annual Conference.

ARTICLE IV

Organization

Section 1.            QUALIFICATION: The officers of the Association shall be elected from the active membership and shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2.            NOMINATION: The President shall appoint The Nominating Committee. The Chairman shall provide recommendations of candidates and voting procedures. Nominations may be made from the active membership at the Annual Conference

Section 3.            OFFICERS: The Vice President shall automatically become President following a year of service as Vice President or when the Office of President is vacated.

The Vice President shall be elected annually a the Annual Conference by a majority of voting membership.

The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected for a period of two years by a majority of voting members.

ARTICLE V

Duties of Officers

Section 1.            PRESIDENT: It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Association and perform such duties as may be incident to the office in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws. The President shall be empowered to appoint all necessary Standing and Special Committees.

Section 2.            VICE PRESIDENT: It shall be the duty of the Vice President to perform all duties of the President during his/her absence or such other duties as assigned by the President and/or Executive Board.

Section 3.            SECRETARY: The Secretary shall be responsible for ensuring the recording of all proceedings of the Association including the Executive Board and maintain the official minutes after approval by the membership. The Secretary shall attest all official documents and perform such other duties as are usual for such office.

Section 4.            TREASURER: The Treasurer shall assist in preparation of an annual budget. The Treasurer shall receive and review the regular audits of Association finances and present the annual budget to the Executive Board with a statement of finances at the business meeting during the annual conference.

Section 5.            EXECUTIVE BOARD: There shall be an Executive Board, which shall consist of the President, Past President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The President shall serve as Chairman of the Executive Board.

The Executive Board shall consider and report at any regular meeting all matters coming to their attention during the interim between such meetings. This Board, likewise, shall have the power to request a Special Meeting of the Association upon a majority vote of the members of the Board. It shall, through appropriate sub-committees, present subjects for general discussion; suggest means for the advancement of the purposes of the Association; designate work to be done between sessions of the Association; convene when and where practical to accomplish its functions; audit all accounts; disseminate literature; and, in every way promote the interests of the Association in any and all matters pertaining to its purposes.

The Executive Board shall contract and employ an Executive Director.

Section 6.            CHAPLAIN: The Chaplain, appointed by  the President, shall serve at the pleasure of the President.

ARTICLE VI

Vacancies

Section 1.            PRESIDENT: The Vice President shall act as President in the event a vacancy occurs in the Office of the President of the Association.

Vacancies in the positions of Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer shall be filled for the balance of the term thereof by the President. In the case of the Secretary or Treasurer, the balance of the term will only equate to that portion of time until the next Annual Meeting.

Section 2.            EXECUTIVE BOARD OR STANDING COMMITTEES: An appointee of the President of the Association shall fill any vacancy occurring in the Executive Board or a Standing Committee.

ARTICLE VII

Amendments

This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and eligible to vote at the business session of any annual or special meeting of the Association provided that the proposed amendment, which may be filed by one or more members of the Association with the Secretary, shall have been submitted with the written explanation of the reason for the proposed amendments at least sixty days prior to the meeting at which it is to be offered. The Secretary shall reproduce the amendment and the reasons therefore and notify the membership of the Association thereof either by mail or publication at least thirty days before such meeting. The Executive Board shall study and consider the proposed amendment and shall report its recommendations to the Association before the membership shall vote on it.

ARTICLE VIII

Meetings

Section 1.            QUARTERLY: The Association will meet at least once each quarter and the President with the assistance of the Executive Board, will determine the Association’s program and agenda prior to the Association’s meeting. Each meeting will encompass training for the professional development of members.

Section 2.            ANNUAL CONFERENCE: The Annual Conference will be the regularly scheduled business meeting of the Association wherein officers and Board members are elected to office. The Annual Conference will encompass training for the professional development of the members.

Section 3.            CALLED: The President of the Association may have emergency called meetings to include representation from officers and board members to take care of matters of utmost importance in the operation of the Association. Called meetings will be kept to a minimum and will be as a last resort in an attempt to resolve unfinished or emergency business of the Association.

Section 4.            VOTING: Each Active Member is entitled to one vote to be cast at the Annual Conference. No proxies will be allowed.

a.      Absentee Ballot: Absentee ballots will be provided upon request. Absentee ballots must be received by the Election Committee before the beginning of the meeting in which an election is conducted.

b.      Mail Ballot: Action taken by mail ballot of the Executive Board, where at least a majority of Board members in writing indicate themselves in agreement, shall be recorded at the next regular meeting of the Board. The Executive Board may authorize election by mail on those occasions which prevent the election from being conducted at the Annual Conference.

Section 5.            EXECUTIVE BOARD: The Executive Board may meet at various times during the year as necessary in order to make decisions regarding the ongoing operations of the Association. The Executive Board is free to make decisions on any phase of operations which is not specifically reserved to action by the membership or the Board.

Section 6.            QUORUM: A quorum shall consist of a majority of the total number of voting members actually registered at any designated meeting of the Association.

Section 7.            PROCEDURE: The parliamentary rules as stated in Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the procedures at the meetings of the Association

Section 8.            REMOVAL FROM OFFICE/VANCIES

  1. Any elected representative of the Association may be removed from office by a two-thirds majority vote of the representative’s electorate or their elected representatives in attendance at any business meeting. Any vote to remove an officer must be preceded by a presentation of facts showing cause for removal and shall allow for rebuttal by the officer in question. The process should be expeditious, but in no case exceed sixty calendar days from receipt of the presentation of facts.
  2. All elected Executive Board Members and all designated committee chairman are required to attend all meetings. Failure to attend two consecutive meetings will result in being removed from office. Any prior approval of missed meetings shall be excused by the President only.

ARTICLE IX

Staff and Procedures

Section 1. Executive Director shall hire, supervise, evaluate, promote, and terminate such staff as may be budgeted. The Director shall be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Association.

Section 2. An operations Manual shall be maintained to provide administrative procedures for the Association.