Bylaws
ARTICLE I
This association shall be known as the Idaho Police K-9 Association, Inc.
ARTICLE II
Purpose
To unite in a common cause, all law enforcement agencies utilizing the services of the canine as a police tool.
To promote friendship and brotherhood between all those interested in the training and use of the canine in police work.
To coordinate the exchange of training and utilization techniques of police dog teams.
To improve the image of the working police dog among the populace in general through improved public services in the prevention and detection of crimes.
To aid and assist those law enforcement agencies making application for information concerning the establishment of a canine program within their respective agencies.
To have a skilled body available and open for consultation by a government agency.
To coordinate the plans for and execute police canine training.
To coordinate the plans for and execute certification testing of police dog teams.
To pass proposals, resolutions, amendments, etc. submitted by an executive board, for the good of the association.
SECTION (1)
Regular membership in the association shall be open to any active, full-time commissioned law enforcement officer, either state, county, municipal, active military or correction officer, and federal law enforcement personnel who have a K-9 assignment in the state of Idaho.
SECTION (2)
Associate membership in this association shall be open to any reserve commissioned law enforcement officer in the State of Idaho or active, full-time state, county, municipal, military, correction officer, and federal law enforcement personnel who have a K-9 assignment within the United States of America but outside of Idaho.
SECTION (3)
Associate members shall not hold any elected office in this association nor shall they have voting privileges.
SECTION (4)
Honorary membership in this association shall be open to any person who may have rendered a valuable service to the association, its members, or other law enforcement agency. They may attend regular meetings and be heard at the discretion of the president. They may not vote or have any other privileges that pertain to regular membership of the association.
Any regular member may submit a person for honorary membership who must then be approved by a majority vote of the members in attendance at the annual meeting of the association.
SECTION (5)
Organization membership is open to any law enforcement agency and carries the same privileges as an associate member. Any person appointed by that agency shall have all the privileges of an associate member.
SECTION (6)
Any member (regular, associate, or honorary) may be dropped from the association for non-payment of dues, upon final conviction of any criminal charge, for any acts that might discredit the association, or upon being found to be using the association or it's name for personal profit or gain. Upon notification in writing by at least two regular members in good standing or any of these circumstances, an investigation by, and a majority vote of, the Executive Board will be required for dismissal.
SECTION (7)
Any new person submitted for membership shall be made known to all members at the next regular meeting. Any member, who has objections, shall make such objections known at the time such person is submitted for membership. Objections must then be submitted to the Executive Board in writing. The application will be tabled pending receipt of the objections in writing by the Executive Board, which will investigate and make recommendations to the members within forty-five days.
SECTION (8)
All applications for membership shall be in writing upon forms furnished for that purpose, and signed by the applicant and accompanied by the prescribed fee.
SECTION (9)
An applicant, having been approved for membership by the Executive Board, shall be notified and may present himself at the next regular meeting and prescribe to the following pledge: "I (member's name) do hereby, of my own free will, pledge upon my honor, to support the constitution and bylaws of the the Idaho Police K-9 Association; that I will obey the resolutions adopted not incompatible with my oath as a law enforcement officer; and I furthermore promise that I will forward and defend the interests of the association by all honorable means within my power." A membership card and copy of the constitution and bylaws may be presented to the new member.
SECTION (10)
No member or members of this organization shall represent himself as a representative of the organization without prior approval of the Executive Board (i.e., giving speeches, demonstrations or dissemination or written material). Violators will receive disciplinary action by the Executive Board.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBER DUES
SECTION (1)
Annual membership dues of the association shall be $40.00.
SECTION (2)
The $40 fee shall be waived for members who are recognized by the Association and POST as Evaluators.
SECTION (3)
Yearly dues shall be due January 1, of each year, and any member who has not paid his dues by February 15, of the same year shall be subject to dismissal.
SECTION (4)
Any member dismissed for non-payment may reapply for membership, and will be assessed a late fee of $10.00.
OFFICERS
SECTION (1)
President
The president shall be known as the chairman and shall be the Chief Executive Officer of this association.
He shall preside at all regular and special meetings and enforce a due observance of the laws of the association.
He shall decide all questions of order without debate.
He shall see that the constitution and bylaws, rules and regulations are obeyed.
He shall cast the deciding vote in case of a tie.
He shall familiarize himself with the constitution and bylaws, rules and regulations of the association so as to enable him to decide all questions promptly and impartially.
He shall have power to appoint committees and be a member of said committees (ex officio).
He shall, by his signature, authenticate all official documents that are authorized by the association.
He shall appoint officers pro-tempore in the event of absences.
He shall perform other duties as are usually incidental to the office of chairman.
SECTION (2)
Vice- President
There shall be a vice-president who will actively assist and support the chairman in his duties. In case of the absence of the president, the vice-president shall assume all the duties and responsibilities of that office. In the event of resignation, death or any other reason not covered by another section, the vice-president shall assume the position of president for the remainder of the term.
SECTION (3)
Secretary
It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep accurate minutes of the meetings of the Executive Board and general meetings, and record them in a book provided for that purpose.
He shall give written notice to all members of their appointment on a committee.
He shall notify all members of the Executive Board and general membership of all regular and special meetings.
He shall conduct all correspondence of the Executive Board.
He shall keep a register in which will be entered the name and date of admission of all members, any additional records, documents or forms designated by the Executive Board.
SECTION (4)
Treasurer
The treasurer shall keep the association accounts on books provided for that purpose.
He shall pay all proper orders drawn on him by the Chairman, for the Idaho Police K-9 Association fund.
He shall, at all regular meetings, present a detailed report of all money received and disbursed, with a general explanation of the financial condition to the Executive Board. His books at all times shall be open to inspection. In the case of his resignation, retirement or removal, all money, books, papers, records, etc. in his possession, belonging to the association shall be turned over to the Chairman of the Board, who shall report their condition to the Executive Board.
This position may be assigned to another member by the Chairman (President).
SECTION (5)
Executive Board Position
There shall be eight (8) members elected from the regular membership to the Executive Board, one from each of the four regions. Along with these four positions, the Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Rather than having a Treasurer, the President may assign the position to another board member. Executive Board meetings shall consist of a quorum of at least fifty percent (50%) of the Executive Board Members. In the event a board member is unable to attend a meeting, his vote may be accepted on specified business via a typed and signed ballot. Absentee ballots shall only be accepted at board meetings having quorum. An absent Board Member may send another in his place with a signed proxy and prior approval by the President.
AMMENDMENTS, ADDITIONS, OR DELETIONS
SECTION (1)
Any amendment, addition or deletion to the bylaws may be submitted to the Executive Board provided it is in writing and signed by at least two (2) members in good standing. Such proposal shall be sent to the membership and a two-thirds vote of the attending membership at the General Membership Meeting will be necessary for its final adoption.
SECTION (2)
Such proposals for amendments, additions or deletions shall be forwarded to the secretary for the Executive Board and presented at the General Membership Meeting.
SECTION (3)
Only regular members of this association shall be eligible to vote on policy-making rules of the association.
SECTION (4)
Regardless, if any amendment, addition or deletion is passed unanimously it shall be null and void if it is in direct conflict with any other section of the bylaws of this association.
MEETINGS
SECTION (1)
The association shall hold a General Membership Meeting sometime between nine (9) and fifteen (15) months following the previous General Membership Meeting.
SECTION (2)
The President shall determine the date the General Membership Meeting is to take place.
SECTION (3)
Members shall receive notice of the General Membership Meeting at least two months prior to the meeting. Notice may be made in writing or posted on the association's web page.
ELECTIONS
SECTION (1)
All members of the Executive Board shall be elected by a plurality of the voting membership of this association. Nominations for the election of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and numbered Board Positions can be made verbally at the General Membership Meeting or in writing up to one month prior to this meeting. The results of said elections shall be based on a written ballot done at the General Membership Meeting. Those regular members who will not be able to attend the General Membership Meeting of a particular election, may request an absentee ballot from the Secretary or may have another Regular Member vote in his place with a signed proxy.
SECTION (2)
Installation of the elective officers and Executive Board shall take effect immediately following the voting results. Term of office shall run until the next General Membership Meeting. This time period shall be no less than nine (9) months and no more than fifteen (15) months.
SECTION (3)
Only regular members of this association shall be eligible to run for elective office on the Executive Board.
SECTION (4)
Only Regular Members of the association shall be eligible to vote for elective offices on the Executive Board.
SECTION (5)
Recall Election. Any elected officer of the Executive Board may be recalled or replaced for nonfeasance, misfeasance or malfeasance, or if he is no longer in good standing should the Executive Board by a two-thirds vote so decide.
SECTION (6)
Vacancies which occur in the office of the Executive Board through resignation, death or other reason not covered by the preceding section (recall election) shall be filled by the Executive Board and shall be selected by the Chairman (President).
SECTION (7)
The Executive Board and offices of the association cannot be made up with more than two representatives from any one agency.
SECTION (8)
For the purpose of the Executive Board position, nominations and voting for each regional representative will come from the membership in that region.
SECTION (9)
Those members of the Executive Board, who during their term of office no longer would qualify as a Regular Member because of reassignment, promotion, advancement or other non-disciplinary reason, may serve out his current term, but may not be re-elected unless he becomes again eligible for regular membership.
ARTICLE IX
EVALUATORS
SECTION (1)
The Idaho Police K-9 Association will recognize certain members in good standing as Police Service Dog Evaluators.
SECTION (2)
Prior to application for appointment as an Evaluator the applicant must:
1. Be recognized as a POST certified instructor of at least one K-9 subject.
2. Successfully complete a POST approved K-9 evaluator course.
3. Successfully direct the Certification testing of at least 7 dogs under the supervision of an Evaluator. The applicant must direct certification testing of at least 2 dogs for every category for which the applicant wishes to be recognized as an Evaluator. The applicant must document the dates, the names of the dog teams tested, what categories were tested and the names of the Evaluators who oversaw the testing. The applicant shall have the Evaluators sign this documentation and note whether the applicant performed the testing proficiently.
4. Be committed to 5 hours per month or 60 hours per year of providing training of police dogs other than his own, or assist at working at police dog seminars.
5. Have 5 years of street handler experience and 500 hours of accredited canine training.
SECTION (3)
Those members who meet both POST and Idaho Police K-9 Association qualifications for Evaluator status may submit an application in resume form to the President of the association. The resume shall include documentation that the applicant has met all necessary requirements. The President shall forward this application to the Executive Board and the Trainer's Committee. If the Trainer's Committee and Executive Board approve the applicant for Evaluator status by a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote, the Association will recommend the applicant be approved by POST as an evaluator.
SECTION (4)
Any corrections officer, who is a regular member in good standing, and has passed their respective academy, and who meets all requirements of POST and the Idaho Police K-9 Association with the exception of being a "commissioned law enforcement officer" may be recognized as an Evaluator.
SECTION (5)
For the purpose of certification, police dog teams must meet the performance standards laid out by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. The Idaho Police K-9 Association may also certify sworn law enforcement and corrections officer dog teams which meet all the performance standards outlined by POST but do not fall under POST jurisdiction (i.e. U.S Forest Service, Probation and Parole, etc.). In these cases the certification shall remain valid for fifteen (15) months.
SECTION (6)
The Trainer's Committee will consist of the President of the Association and all the Evaluators who are recognized by POST and the Idaho Police K-9 Association and who are regular members of the Association in good standing.
SECTION (7)
POST regulations require that Certification performance standards for each skill category be promulgated by the Idaho Police K-9 Association and approved by POST Council. A majority vote of the membership of the association is required for amendments, additions or deletions to the performance standards promulgated by the Idaho Police K-9 Association.
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