Section 1:
The name of the corporation is SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS POLICE CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION, INC.
Section 1:
The purpose of the organization shall be to bind the members in closer comradeship and fraternalism; to promote, protect, and foster the development of law enforcement methods and procedures.
To develop, foster, and maintain sound and enlightened public relations with the public and with other agencies and organizations having a relationship with law enforcement.
Section 1:
Any municipal or campus police chief within the Counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, Plymouth, Dukes and Nantucket of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police, any State Police Troop Commanders, in said counties, and the Chief of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police Department, shall be eligible during the term of his office as Chief of Police, Colonel or Troop Commander, for membership in this organization. This type of membership shall be termed “Active Membership”.
Section 2:
Honorary Membership – Any individual who has rendered distinguished service to the cause of law enforcement or this Association, may be eligible for Honorary Membership. Such membership shall be bestowed on an individual upon a majority vote of the organization at a regular meeting. Honorary members shall not be required to pay dues, nor shall they have any voting rights or be eligible to hold elective office.
Section 2A:
Life Membership – Any active member of this Association, after five (5) years of membership in good standing, may be designated a life member. Said life membership status shall only require a majority vote of the Membership Committee. A life member shall be entitled to take part in any discussion, vote on any issue and be eligible to serve on any committee. Life members shall be exempt from paying dues. Any active member holding elective office at the time of retirement shall be allowed to serve out the term of said office. The five (5) year membership requirement may be waived by a majority vote of the Membership Committee.
Section 3:
Associate Membership – Persons, other than those enumerated in Sections 1 and 2 of the Article, who have a close association with Police Departments of the cities and towns of the counties of Barnstable, Bristol, Norfolk, Plymouth, Dukes, and Nantucket shall be eligible for membership under the terms and conditions set forth in this Article, Section 4.
Section 4:
Application for Membership – All persons seeking to become members of this organization shall make application therefore on forms provided by the organization. A sum equal to one year’s dues shall be forwarded with the application.
If the applicant is accepted, such sum shall constitute an application fee and dues for the remainder of the ensuing year. In the event that the applicant is not accepted to membership, said sum shall be returned to the applicant.
Section 5:
Only an Active or Life member shall be privileged to sponsor a person for membership in this organization. All applications must contain the signature of the sponsoring member and shall be forwarded to the Chairman of the Membership Committee to be placed on the meeting floor for a vote.
Section 6:
An application shall not be voted on until at least one meeting following the one at which the application is read to the membership, unless the applicant is an Active Chief of Police.
Section 7:
On matters directly or indirectly having a bearing on any phase of law enforcement, only active and life members shall be eligible to vote.
Section 8:
On all matters relative to social, charitable and other aspects of the organization, all of the membership shall be entitled to discuss and vote thereon.
Section 9:
The Board of Directors shall determine dues, for both active and associate membership, in the organization, upon a recommendation by the Secretary/Treasurer. Any change in the yearly dues shall be by a majority vote of the membership at a regular meeting, but only after prior written notification to the entire membership.
Honorary and Lifetime members shall not be required to pay dues. Yearly dues are payable, in advance, by February 15th of each year. Non-payment of dues by June 30th shall cause the member to be suspended from the association, without notice.
Section 1:
Officers of the organization shall be elected annually and shall consist of a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Secretary-Treasurer, a Sergeant-at-Arms, and nine (9) Directors.
Section 2:
The election of officers shall take place at the annual meeting of the organization on the second Wednesday in the month of November, at such a place as provided in Article VIII.
In the event that the annual meeting is omitted by oversight, or otherwise, on the day herein provided therefore, a subsequent meeting shall be held in place therefore, and any business transacted or elections held at such meeting shall be as valid as if transacted or held at the annual meeting, provided that it is held within ninety (90) days after the end of the fiscal year of the corporation.
The corporation’s fiscal year shall end August 31 of each year.
Section 3:
A nominating committee of three (3) shall be appointed by the President at the October meeting and shall present a list of candidates for office at the November meeting at which time the list shall be read to the membership.
Section 4:
All officers, with the exception of the Board of Directors, shall hold office for one year or until their successors have been duly elected. The President shall not succeed himself for a period of ten years.
Section 5:
Only paid-up members may vote. Only paid-up Active members, holding the position of municipal Police Chief, may run for office, except for the position of Secretary-Treasurer, which may be held by a Life member of this Association.
Section 1:
General Powers – The affairs of the organization shall be managed by its Board of Directors. Among their duties shall be included the auditing of the books of the organization.
Section 2:
The Board of Directors shall consist of fourteen (14) members, which shall include the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms, and nine (9) elected Directors. Five (5) of whom shall be Active Municipal Chiefs of Police, two (2) of whom shall be Life members and two (2) of whom shall be Associate members. The nine (9) elected Directors shall serve three (3) year terms.
A special election shall occur at the June 2005 meeting, for the purpose of electing the two new Life Members to the Board of Directors, for a term to expire in January 2006. Thereafter, the two (2) new Life Members added to the Board of Directors shall serve for the following terms, for their first annual election only, in November 2005:
One (1) Life Member, elected to the Board of Directors, shall serve for a term of one year.
One (1) Life Member, elected to the Board of Directors, shall serve for a term of two years.
Section 3:
Other Provisions
a. The President shall serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Secretary-Treasurer shall serve as its Secretary.
b. Meetings shall be held at the call of the Chairman or by a five-day notice in writing signed by four (4) members of the Board.
c. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
d. The Board Chairman shall appoint five active Chiefs of Police to form a committee, which shall be known as the Membership Committee. The Second Vice-President shall serve as the Committee Chairman. Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. The Chairman shall appoint one permanent secretary of the Membership Committee, or a temporary secretary if need be, for the keeping of a record of the doings of said committee.
The Board Chairman shall set the term of office to be served by the Membership Committee.
It shall be the duty of the established Membership Committee to cause records to be made and kept and every member of the organization shall be investigated thoroughly by said committee in order to determine their worthiness of being a member of our Association.
If a majority of said committee at a meeting of its own approves a member said member shall remain upon the rolls of our Association. If a majority of the committee at a meeting of its own is of the opinion that the best interest of the association would be served by not having a member upon its rolls, said disapproved member shall be dropped automatically from membership.
In order to drop a member from the rolls, it will be necessary for 3/5 of the full Membership Committee to concur, and their decision shall be final.
Said Membership Committee shall hold as many meetings as is necessary for the efficient processing of all old or new members.
Section 1:
The President – He shall be the chief executive officer of the organization. He shall preside at all meetings of the organization. He shall have the powers to appoint officers pro tem and he shall appoint all committees and liaisons.
Appointments to committees shall be for a one-year term and shall expire at the end of the term of officers or until their successors are appointed. Each committee shall have from three (3) to five (5) members, with a chairman appointed by the President.
He shall perform such other duties as may properly come within his province.
Section 2:
The First Vice-President – He shall officiate for the President in his absence and shall serve as the Chairman of the Program Committee.
Section 2A:
The Second Vice-President – He shall officiate at the meetings during the absence of the President and the First Vice-President and shall serve as the Chairman of the Membership Committee.
Section 3:
The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a record of all business transacted at the meetings, attend to all secretarial work of the organization, keep in books provided for the purpose the By-Laws, Charter and records of the meetings and a file of all official correspondence of the association. He shall give notice to all members of the meeting of the organization. He shall be the chief financial officer of the organization and shall be charged with the collection and with the custody of all its funds, and shall give his receipts for monies received. He shall keep an accurate account of all receipts and disbursements and report thereon at each meeting. He shall pay all bills when approved by the association. He shall be the Secretary-Treasurer of all committees and in the absence of the President, the First Vice-President, and the Second Vice-President he shall preside at the meeting.
Section 4: Deleted
Section 5:
The Sergeant-at-Arms – It shall be the responsibility of the Sergeant-at-Arms to see that all persons present at Association Meetings are members in good standing or guests of members. He shall also be responsible for the decorum of all members and guests present.
Section 1:
Reading of the minutes.
Section 2:
Treasurer’s Report, reception and disposition of bills.
Section 3:
Reading applications and balloting of new members.
Section 4:
Report of the Board of Directors.
Section 5:
Report of Special Committees.
Section 6:
Unfinished business.
Section 7:
New business.
Section 8:
Good of the organization and police problems.
Section 9:
Appointment of Committees.
Section 10:
Adjournment.
Section 11:
The President may alter the order of business if it is done in the best interest of the Association.
Section 1:
Regular meetings will be held at such time and place as may be decided upon at the previous meeting.
Section 2:
Special meetings may be called by the President or upon the written request of five (5) active members in good standing. The Secretary-Treasurer shall notify each member of same by written notice.
Section 3:
Seven (7) active members shall constitute a quorum for the legitimate transaction of business at all meetings.
Section 4:
Not less than two meetings per year shall be held from the exclusive purpose of increasing the proficiency of the active members in the field of law enforcement. These meetings shall be restricted to active members and to such Honorary and Associate members who are actively engaged in the field of law enforcement as the officers of the organization might invite.
Section 5:
Only the Chairman of the Program Committee shall schedule guest speakers to address the membership at meetings.
This organization shall not offer support for, or endorse any candidate for paid political office. Candidates for paid political office shall not be allowed to address the body at any meeting of the organization, for purposes of seeking endorsements. Incumbent candidates may be allowed to address the membership, but only for purposes of beneficial mutual concerns for their office and the organization.
Candidates for elective office in the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association shall be afforded the right to seek the endorsement of this organization, provided however that a request in writing is made to the President. Said request must be submitted by August 31st.
Section 1:
Any alterations or additions to these By-Laws may be offered in writing at any meeting, but shall not be acted upon except at a subsequent meeting and after due notice to members and by a 2/3 vote of those present and voting
Section 1:
These By-Laws shall become effective immediately upon organization of the corporation on the filing of Article of Organization with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Rev. 1980
Amend. 1986
Amend. 2005
Meeting Information:
SMPCA meets monthly at various locations across the Southeast Region of Massachusetts.
If you are interested in presenting at or attending a meeting, please Contact Us.