Officers & Elections
Section 1. The elected officers of the St. Louis County Police Association shall consist of, in order of succession, President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant-at-Arms. The term of office for each elected officer shall be for two (2) years or until their successors are elected. The President and Secretary shall be elected in even numbered years. The Vice President, Treasurer and Sergeant-at-Arms shall be elected in odd numbered years.
Section 2. The Immediate Past President and any member holding elected office at the Lodge 15, Missouri State Lodge or Grand Lodge level shall, by virtue of their position, serve as ex-officio officers.
Section 3. The elected and ex-officio officers shall collectively be known as the Executive Board.
Section 4. All officers of the Executive Board are expected to attend all meetings of the Executive Board and general membership. All officers of the Executive Board are expected to attend meetings of the Lodge 15 general membership and are encouraged to participate in Fraternal Order of Police functions and actions.
Section 5. The Executive Board may take action and conduct business, including the appropriation of funds, at any time. Any such action or business that merits documentation shall be ratified at, and noted in the minutes of, the next formal meeting of the Executive Board.
Section 6. Executive Board elections:
A. Any active or retired member, as defined in Article II, with a minimum of six (6) consecutive months membership prior to the date of election; holding the commissioned rank of sergeant or below; or, holding the civilian equivalent to the rank of sergeant or below, shall be eligible to seek elected office. A member shall seek election for only one (1) office per election cycle.
B. Any member seeking office shall complete a Petition for Candidacy indicating eligibility for office; the office sought; and, the commitment to fulfill the duties and expectations of office. The Petition for Candidacy shall be signed and the signatures dated by the candidate and two (2) nominating members. The Petition for Candidacy shall be submitted to the Secretary on or after 7:00 PM on the second Thursday in October of the election year and on or before 7:00 PM on the second Thursday in November of the election year. The Secretary shall verify the eligibility for office, sign and affix the seal to the Petition for Candidacy. The Secretary shall retain all petitions for candidacy.
C. All members seeking office shall be entitled to address the general membership at the October and November meetings of the election year. The Chair of the October and November general membership meetings shall recognize every member in attendance that has submitted a Petition for Candidacy and offer each candidate the opportunity to address the membership for not more than three (3) minutes.
D. Contested elections shall be decided by written ballot, forwarded and returned by first class mail as provided for in the Bylaws. The candidate receiving a plurality of the completed ballots returned shall be declared the winner.
E. Candidates participating in contested elections shall be entitled to be present for the tally of returned ballots.
F. In the event that only one (1) eligible member submits a Petition for Candidacy for any office by the prescribed deadline, that member shall be recognized at the December general membership meeting as having been elected.
G. In the event that there are no Petitions for Candidacy submitted for an office, the President shall appoint to that office, with the approval of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Executive Board, a member meeting the requirements of eligibility to seek elected office.
H. Officers elected and appointed during the prescribed election cycle shall assume office without ceremony on January 1st following the election.
Section 7. Should an office holder be promoted above the commissioned rank of sergeant, or the civilian equivalent, he shall be permitted to complete his term of office, but shall be ineligible to seek or hold future office while serving above the commissioned rank of sergeant, or the civilian equivalent. There shall be no exception regarding rank for ex-officio officers of the Executive Board.
Section 8. Should an office holder be dismissed from the employment of St. Louis County and is not challenging the dismissal through the courts, he shall immediately vacate office.
Section 9. Any vacancy of elected office on the Executive Board shall be filled by a member, qualified to seek elected office, appointed by the President with the approval of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the remaining Executive Board. Should the office of Immediate Past President be vacated prior to the end of term of the sitting President, it shall be left open. Should the office of President be vacated, the Vice President shall assume the office of President until the next regular election.
Section 10. Upon expiration of their term or upon vacation of office, all Executive Board officers shall, prior to the next scheduled meeting of the Executive Board, turn over to their successor all records, materials and property associated with that office.