Membership Information

Individuals who are appointed under the authority of federal or state law as a peace officer in the state of California are eligible to join the association as a Sworn (Regular) Member of the Association. Regular membership in the association also includes the categories of Reserve, Retired, and sworn employees of Agency members. Regular Members are afforded full participation in the Association and shall have full voting rights.

Individual full-time, permanent, Non-Sworn members of a law enforcement agency are eligible to join the association as a Professional Staff Member of the Association. Professional Staff Members are afforded full participation in the Association and shall have full voting rights.

Individual former sworn law enforcement officers who retired in good standing and are in compliance with all the requirements of their prior employing agency for the issuance of a retirement identification card and concealed weapon endorsement are eligible to join the association as a Retired (Regular) Member of the Association. Regular membership in the association also includes the categories of Sworn, Reserve, and the sworn employees of Agency members. Regular Members are afforded full participation in the Association and shall have full voting rights.

Individual part-time or volunteer employees of a law enforcement agency who have law enforcement powers while on-duty & meet one of the three levels of reserve peace officer status as defined by California law are eligible to join the association as a Reserve Peace Officer (Regular) Member of the Association. Regular membership in the association also includes the categories of Sworn, Retired, and sworn employees of Agency members. Regular Members are afforded full participation in the Association and shall have full voting rights.

Individuals who own or work for a business that provides goods and/or services to the law enforcement profession are eligible for Affiliate Membership in CPOA. Affiliate members are not eligible to vote, hold elected office, or serve on the Board of Directors, but may serve on volunteer task forces and committees.

Friends of CPOA are individuals who are volunteers, part-time employees, or others interested in and who support the law enforcement profession and CPOA’s mission and otherwise do not qualify for membership under the Sworn, Retired, Reserve or Professional Staff Member categories. Friends of CPOA are not eligible to vote, hold elected office, or serve on the Board of Directors but may serve on volunteer task forces and committees and receive all other member benefits. 

Law enforcement agencies and organizations that employ individuals appointed under federal or state law as peace officers—including municipal police departments, county sheriffs’ offices, the California Highway Patrol, district attorney investigators, special districts, transit agencies, port authorities, fish and wildlife agencies, and any other entity employing sworn law enforcement personnel—are eligible for Department Membership in the Association. All employees of a member agency, whether sworn or non-sworn, are granted membership rights and privileges within the association, which may include the ability to vote, hold office, and serve on task forces and committees.