Grievance Procedure
(Amended 11/6/96)
A. Purpose
1.
The Grievance Procedure of the Grand Lodge of the Fraternal Order of
Police is established to provide fair, impartial, and expeditious
examination of appeals to determine if a violation of the Constitution or
By-Laws has occurred and that due process has been afforded to all
involved parties.
B. Grievance Protocol
1.
2.
The Grievance Committee will accept all appeals made through the
National Lodge Secretary that have been filed in accordance with all local,
state and national Constitution and By-Laws.
a.
The filing of such appeals will reflect the guidelines of Article 23
Section 3-D of the National Constitution.
b.
The National Lodge President or his designee, shall review said
appeal and ascertain if alternative action to the appeal may be
taken relative to the relief sought. If such actions, the results of
which must be agreeable to both parties, are either not taken or
incomplete within 30 days of receipt of the appeal, the appeal will
then be tendered to the Grievance Committee Chairman.
Appeals submitted to the Grievance Committee Chairman as provided
above may result in a formal meeting or hearing being conducted in
conjunction with the next scheduled National Board of Trustees Meeting
or as determined by the National President.
a.
It shall be the responsibility of the National Secretary to forward
all submitted material to the Grievance Committee Chairman.
b.
The Grievance Committee Chairman will than distribute copies of
the submitted materials to the Grievance Committee Members so
that they may prepare for a subsequent meeting or hearing.
C. Grievance Hearings
1.
The National Grievance Chairman shall conduct formal hearings of the
National Grievance Committee in accordance to Roberts Rules of Order.
2.
1.
a.
The national Grievance Committee shall consist of members
previously selected after the most recent National Conference.
b.
The National Second Vice-President may monitor the proceedings
of the Grievance Committee to provide guidance as necessary;
however, he will have no voting privilege.
Grievance Hearings will be conducted on the first travel date of the
National Trustees Meeting or as determined by the National President.
The time will be established by the Grievance Chairman.
a.
All Grievance Committee Hearings are open to any member in
good standing, but those in attendance are precluded from voicing
an opinion or asking questions if not called upon as a witness for
either party.
b.
All Grievance Committee Hearings will be recorded and
transcribed if necessary. The recordings and transcriptions shall be
maintained by the National Secretary.
c.
Grievance Committee Members belonging to the State from which
the appeal originates may be included in any fact finding process;
however, they may elect to excuse themselves from any voting
process.
Grievance Committee Members who are a subject of an appeal shall be
excluded from their committee responsibilities.
d.
All involved parties will be given an opportunity to present their
position and may be questioned by individual Grievance Committee
Members.
1.
An appealing party may withdraw his appeal at any time prior to the
hearing.
2.
If an appealing party is not present at the start of the Hearing, the issue
shall be considered only upon submitted documents.
3.
An appealing party may have the assistance of one member in good
standing to assist and provide information concerning the appeal.
4.
Legal Counsel will not be permitted during any phase of the appeal procedure.
e.
Each party involved in the Grievance Hearing shall bear all costs
associated with their appearance and presentation before the
Grievance Committee Hearing.
f.
After giving fair consideration of the appeal, the Committee will
draft a recommendation addressing the issue of whether due
process had been afforded the appellant or if some measure of
relief in correlation to what had been sought should be rendered.
3.
All recommendations of the Grievance Committee relative to the appeal at
issue will be presented to the National Board of Trustees in conjunction
with the Grievance Chairman’s oral report.
4.
This Grievance Procedure shall in no way prohibit the appellant his/her
option of appeal to the Biennial Conference as detailed in the National
Constitution and By-Laws.