We invite anybody interested in the issues and topics we focus our efforts on to join. Members must be able to dedicate enough time to participate and make a difference in the Association.  

 

 

 

 

Section I – Candidates for membership shall be admitted to the membership subject to and in accordance with any membership requirements of this Association, those currently being a completed application form and one month dues in advance.

 

 Section II – There shall be four (4) classes of membership in the Association.

A.                 Regular Membership shall mean those members in good standing and regularly employed as Law Enforcement   Officers, the rank of Lieutenant or below by the Suffolk, Virginia Police Department and currently employed civilian personnel.  Regular membership is also to include those members of the Suffolk Police Auxiliary organization who are trained, certified and sworn.  Members that hold the rank of Lieutenant or Auxiliary status will have the right to voice their opinions and vote in all decisions, but shall not be able to run or hold any position on the Executive Board. All regular members of this Association shall be required to become a registered voter of the Commonwealth of Virginia within sixty (60) days of application for membership.

1)                  Employees that are eligible for membership, but still on a probationary status may join the Association.  Due process rights that can be guaranteed are limited for such personnel. All Association benefits that can be extended to probationary employees will be available. The only restrictions on such benefits are outlined in the City of Suffolk Policy and Suffolk Police Department Policies and Procedures. The local association will not add any new restrictions.

 

B.                 Sustaining Membership shall include previous regular members of the Suffolk Police Officers Association who are no longer employed with the Suffolk Police Department. Sustaining members are not eligible to fill elected Board positions, but may fill appointed positions within the Association. These members will be eligible for all Association benefits with the exception of Union counsel.

 

C.                 Retired Membership shall mean those members in good standing who retire at the rank of Lieutenant or below from the Suffolk Police Department and retired civilian personnel.  Retired members shall have certain privileges within the Association, including the right to vote for officers of the Association, and shall be eligible for certain benefits as designated from time-to-time by a majority vote of the Regular Membership.

 

D.                 Honorary Membership shall be extended to those individuals selected by the Executive Board and prior active members in good standing.  Each honorary member is subject to majority vote of the Executive Board. Honorary membership involves not being able to vote in any elections or hold any board positions.

 

Membership of Good Standing refers to a member who is current with financial obligations, votes at all elections, and fulfills any committee obligations as needed.

 

ARTICLE IV- DUES

 

            Section I – All Regular Members, Sustaining Members, Retired Members, and Honorary members of this Association shall be required to pay dues as designated by a majority vote of a membership meeting. The amount of dues may be adjusted from time-to-time by a majority vote during a membership meeting with thirty (30) days advance notice.

 

            Section II – Monthly dues for Regular Members are set at twenty (20) dollar per month. Dues for Sustaining Members are set at ten (10) dollars per month. Dues for Retired and Honorary Members are set at twenty (20) dollars per year. Monthly dues will be submitted to the Association by the fifteenth of the month. Yearly dues will be submitted to the Association by January 15^th.

 

            Section III – Any member who is more than two (2) months in arrears in the payment of dues shall be deemed suspended and shall forfeit all rights and privileges of the Association unless all dues in arrears are paid, except where dues are waived by the Executive Board. Once a member is two (2) months in arrears of membership dues, a letter of suspension will be sent. In order to maintain membership in good standing, dues must be paid to date within fifteen (15) days or membership will be cancelled. After a member has had two (2) suspension letters, the member will be required to either pay a full year of dues in advance or sign up for account deduction in order to maintain good standing.

 

            Section IV – Dues of all members suspended without pay or terminated with appeal pending from the Suffolk Police Department for one (1) month or more shall be waived for the period of suspension or termination. The member must notify a Board Member of intent in writing to exercise his/her right to the grievance process or legal litigation within fifteen (15) days of the action taken.

 

            Section V – The Executive Board may waive payment of dues of a member who is ill, disabled, or other emergency for a period exceeding thirty (30) days as approved by the Executive Board.

 

 

To join we need a completed application and membership dues paid in advance for the first month.  We recommend you take advantage of the draft program. See our treasurer, Beth Gayle to get an Application and draft form.  Your monthly dues fee of $20.00 will be automatically deducted from your checking account.

 

You have to be a member in good standing to receive Association benefits; particularly legal representation. Please contact us for more information and a copy of the application and draft.  It is your responsibility to read your By-Laws.

 

When you are not paying your dues, we still have to pay your membership fee to the International and your Association counsel, so we are "supporting" you during that time.