Discipline

Section 1. Any member who, by his actions or activities, brings discredit to the St. Louis County Police Association; or, who violates the principles of the Preamble, Constitution or Bylaws, shall be subject to suspension of his membership with the St. Louis County Police Association and/or a recommendation to Lodge 15 of recall of membership from the Fraternal Order of Police.

Section 2. The discipline of any member(s) may be recommended by any member(s). The allegation shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Board. The Executive Board or, a committee appointed from within the Executive Board, shall determine the merit of the allegation. Should the allegation be determined to merit investigation, the Executive Board or, a committee appointed from within the Executive Board, shall conduct the investigation.

Section 3. Due Process: A. The investigation of discipline shall afford the accused member(s) due process. B. The investigating committee shall invite the accused member to be interviewed at a hearing. The hearing shall be scheduled at the mutual convenience of the accused member and committee. However, the hearing must be conducted within ten (10) calendar days of the invitation. C. The accused member shall be entitled to present evidence and invite witnesses to the scheduled hearing.

Section 4. Upon completion of the investigation, the matter shall be taken up at the next formal meeting of the Executive Board. Upon motion at that meeting, the disposition shall be ratified by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Executive Board and shall be communicated in writing to the member(s) involved. The disposition shall be announced at the next meeting of the general membership. Should the disposition be a recommendation of recall of membership, the allegation and recommendation shall be submitted by the Executive Board to the Lodge 15 Executive Board for action under the Lodge 15 Constitution & Bylaws.

Section 5. Suspension of membership shall not exceed one hundred eighty (180) days. Suspension of membership may be appealed to the Lodge 15 Executive Board. Appeals shall conform to the Constitution & Bylaws of Lodge 15 and the Missouri State Lodge.

Section 6. Dues of member(s) suspended or recalled shall be forfeited.

Section 7. Censure or Recall of Officers:

A. In addition to suspension of membership and/or a recommendation of recall of membership, officers of the Executive Board shall be subject to discipline in the form of censure or recall from office.

B. Censure of officer(s) shall result upon motion adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members in attendance at a meeting of the general membership. Censure shall be a permanent record in the minutes of the meeting at which adopted.

C. A motion for recall of officer(s) may be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of members in attendance at a meeting of the general membership. Upon adoption of a motion for recall of officer(s), the President, Chair or, should the President or Chair be the subject of the recall, the next elected officer in succession, shall appoint a committee to investigate the conduct of the officer(s) subject to recall. The committee shall complete the investigation prior to, and submit the results of the investigation at, the next meeting of the general membership. Upon acceptance of the committee report, a motion to proceed with referendum may be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of members in attendance. Upon adoption of a motion for referendum, mailed balloting shall be conducted as prescribed in the Constitution & Bylaws. The ballots shall be postmarked no more than seven (7) days after the general membership meeting at which the motion for referendum is adopted; and, the ballots shall be returned for tally prior to the next scheduled meeting of the general membership. Officer(s) subject to the recall motion shall not be involved in the balloting process, nor be present for the tally of ballots. Recall of officer(s) shall result upon a two-thirds (2/3) majority of written ballots returned.

Section 8. All documents and materials regarding discipline shall be maintained by the Secretary as a permanent record.