Discussion Points

What can AZPOA do for me?

1.      Provide the best legal protection in the State for law enforcement officers.  If you are accused of wrongdoing, justly or unjustly, neither the county attorney nor our department is your friend.  Although firearms are here, we realize that not all officers or members are armed.  “Use of force” allegations are farther reaching than mere shootings.  There are also other issues for which you may need representation: Ethical misconduct, sexual impropriety, and the list goes on.  Everyone has a Constitutional right to “due process.”  Due process is not precluded by your employment with the probation department.

2.      Provide an effective and powerful lobby in the State legislature.  Examples of our past accomplishments: Arming of staff in both adult and juvenile, Senate Bill 1303, 20-year retirement.

3.      Support and assist employees through the grievance process.  We will do this by helping employees formulate a plan of attack on how to move forward in a grievance proceeding.

Objections to joining AZPOA:

1.      “It costs too much.”  Not being a member could cost you more.  Consider your membership “employment insurance”, and $13.84 per pay period is a small price to pay to help insure your livelihood.  Consider your dues an investment that is also tax deductible.  AZPOA has brought a great deal of attention to the fact that officers are overworked and underpaid.

2.      “I am a good officer, and I won’t get into trouble.”  That’s why they are called “false” accusations.  Our department has demonstrated a “guilty until proven innocent” philosophy on numerous occasions in the past.  If the department can avoid a lawsuit by hanging an individual out to dry, they will.

3.      “Joining AZPOA could hurt my chance of promotion.”  This has not proven to be the case.  There are countless supervisors that are now members, and many line officers, who are members, have been promoted. 

What will AZPOA do for me today?

Your association has made great strides in the areas of officer safety.  We now have the option to carry firearms as a result of association action.  Officers must be compensated at time-and-a-half in the event they work more than eighty hours in a pay period (the eighty-six-hour rule no longer stands).  Officers now have the right to representation during proceedings with management that could result in formal disciplinary action.

Cultural shifts take time to be fully realized.  The larger our membership, the faster we can accomplish our goals.  Working together, our goals will be realized.  AZPOA is only as good as its membership.  AZPOA would not have come this far without hard working staff united to make an impact on the world around them.  Your membership is a very effective way to positively impact your work environment.  Your membership is critical to the cause.

Article written by/or information provided by AZPOA