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Political Action Committee

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Purpose: A Political Action Committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect or defeat government officials or to promote legislation. The Palm Springs Police Officers' Association has established a PAC to maintain and promote their goals.

Purpose - To ensure that our members' safety, livability, and working conditions are protected, the Palm Springs Police Officers Association shall participate in the elective process in a proactive manner through political endorsements. These endorsements are also intended to enhance the viability of the Palm Springs Police Officers Association and the Palm Springs Police Department, as a whole, through cooperative working relationships with various organizations, individuals, and legislators. Endorsements made by the Palm Springs Police Officers Association are on behalf of the organization and are strictly recommendations to the membership which in no manner infringe on its members' right to democratic choice.

General Policy - All qualifying candidates and the organizing committees for the appropriate ballot measures and referendums shall be eligible to seek the Palm Springs Police Officers Association (PSPOA) endorsement subject to the following guidelines, recognizing the multi-partisan makeup of the PSPOA.

Offices considered for PSPOA endorsement will include, but not be limited to:

  • Federal: Senate, Congress
  • Statewide: Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Treasury, initiatives and referendums
  • State Legislative: State Senators, State Representatives
  • Local/Regional: Mayor, City Council, City Attorney, Sheriff, County District Attorney, County Supervisors, County Treasurer, propositions

Endorsement Decision Making - The PSPOA Board of Directors, hereinto referred as Directors, will make all final endorsement decisions upon majority vote of the Directors based on recommendations approved by the PSPOA PAC, political consultant and, whenever possible, any other outside consultant(s) and members.

Endorsement actions by the PSPOA can include:

  • An endorsement of one candidate;
  • No endorsement; or
  • A listing of candidates who support the PSPOA's "targeted" issues. "Targeted" issues are those issues of particular importance to the PSPOA and its membership and, subject to final review, might include such things as salary, benefits and other labor and law enforcement issues.

Criteria for Endorsement - Candidates may be invited to a screening interview with the Directors and/or PAC and political consultant(s) and/or members to judge the qualifications of each candidate and the effect an endorsement would have on the PSPOA.

  • The following criteria (in some cases, only those portions of the criteria that are applicable) should be used in determining whether a candidate will receive an PSPOA endorsement:Ride along with an PSPOA member if approved by the Chief of Police or his/her designee
  • Complete questionnaire provided by PSPOA
  • Character and personal integrity
  • Incumbency
  • Voting records if an incumbent
  • Leadership position
  • Committee assignments
  • Past active support and assistance in committee and/or on the floor
  • Bill sponsorship
  • General interest in and commitment to public safety, officer safety, criminal justice and public employee issues
  • Prior experience in public office and community affairs
  • Work experience
  • Position on current PSPOA issues
  • Party affiliation -- while PSPOA should be bipartisan there are situations when party affiliation is appropriate to consider
  • Opinions of other public safety groups - "Hometown rule"
  • Ability to conduct a viable campaign

The President and/or political consultant(s) of the PSPOA will be responsible for contacting the candidate who earns the PSPOA endorsement. The President will notify the board via email that the candidate was notified of the PSPOA endorsement. A discussion of the endorsement should also take place so that the candidate and the PSPOA are in agreement as to the scope of the endorsement, and that the integrity of the PSPOA and its endorsement procedures will be maintained. Endorsement may include a written statement on PSPOA letterhead which may be reprinted and published by the candidate or political committee. The text of that statement should be prepared and approved by the PSPOA President and/or PSPOA political consultant(s).

Procedures for Ballot Measures - When considering requests for PSPOA endorsement regarding ballot measures, initiatives, referendums and recall measures, a similar mechanism to that used for candidates will be put into action.

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