TMPA: Texas Municipal Police Association: About Us

No. While TMPA was founded by municipal police officers in 1950, membership in TMPA has grown to include all Texas peace officers. Anyone in a law enforcement related career is also welcome to affiliate with TMPA, enjoying all of our membership benefits.

Do I need to be a member of my local association and does my local association need to be affiliated with TMPA for me to be eligible for membership?

No. TMPA is comprised of individual members, not affiliated associations. TMPA believes that unity is important and recommends membership in local associations. While many associations are affiliated with TMPA, membership in your local association is not a prerequisite to membership in TMPA. The number of members we have from one department to another may vary from the majority of its officers to a single employee. It makes no difference to our Association. Each member is equally important to us and enjoys the same benefits, regardless of whether we have all the members in your department or only one. Unlike some other organizations, there are no "sweetheart deals" at TMPA.

Is my membership information confidential?

Yes. Your membership with TMPA is strictly confidential. We do not release our mailing lists to solicitors nor do departments have access to our membership records.

How do I begin my membership with TMPA?

Simply fill out the online form and pay your dues online by credit card. Dues amounts are listed on the application. Your membership with TMPA begins as soon as you have joined.

When does my membership with TMPA begin?

Your membership with TMPA begins the day it is received in our State Office with payment or by the date received if sent by fax, online, or given by phone.

Does legal assistance have a waiting period?

No. Your legal assistance coverage begins the day your application and payment are received in our State Office. The legal assistance program does not cover any incident that occurred before we receive your application with payment.

What are the financial limits of the legal plan?

There are no limits. At one time, TMPA carried an excess coverage policy, but we found this policy provided no benefit beyond what our program is currently capable of providing. TMPA will provide coverage for any covered event to the extent provided by our program without regard to cost and this is important. Some plans offered by other organizations put a cap on administrative coverage or limit attorneys fees. For instance one plan offered in some FOP lodges caps administrative coverage at $9,000. This will not cover many termination cases that involve a third party hearing examiner (common in civil service cities). Another union that touts its legal plan will only pay all legal fees if a salaried staff attorney is used. If you choose to use a high quality private practice attorney, you may very well get a bill for fees not paid.

Does TMPA pay for other legal expenses?

Yes. Psychological testing, polygraph examination, expert witness fees, and even private investigative work are covered in the plan if the expenses are deemed necessary to defend a member. No other plan comes close to covering the scope of expenses offered in the legal plan.

If I need a lawyer, who do I call?

Just call TMPA at 1-800-848-2088, which is answered 24 hours a day. If you have been involved in a critical incident, we will have a lawyer respond to the scene immediately. If you have a consultation question or need an attorney on a non-emergency incident, you can just call the toll-free number and we will give you a tracking number to provide the attorney. The attorney will bill TMPA directly and you will never have to deal with claim forms or reimbursements.

Why don't you employ staff attorneys?

The best way to answer this question is to provide an analogy. Let's say you are sick and you have a serious heart condition; would you rather choose your doctor, or are you content with a staff physician? Most people would rather choose. Our legal assistance program provides you with the freedom to choose your attorney to handle your particular needs. We have found that it is more cost effective to hire attorneys to work on specific cases rather than employ attorneys and pay them whether they are working or not.

Most of the attorneys who work for TMPA charge much higher hourly rates than they accept from us. They do so because, like physicians that participate in Preferred Provider Option (PPO) programs, they understand the increased volume of business offsets the lower rates we negotiate on our members' behalf. These attorneys also see increasing business from contingency civil cases as a result of their association with our members. It is a win-win relationship and our members benefit with access to top quality private-practice attorneys from some of the most prestigious law firms in the state.

What are my payment options?

You may pay in installments of six months or one year if paying by check, credit card, on-line, or money order. You may pay on a monthly basis by either bank draft, credit card or payroll deduction (if offered by your department). Following are brief explanations of each of these payment options: Check, Credit Card (through on-line application) or Money Order

Check or Money Order - Include payment by check or money order with your completed membership application or simply go to our on-line application and complete the requested information.

Cred it Card - If paying by credit card, please complete all of the credit card information on the membership application or on-line application. Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are accepted and you have the choice to have monthly recurring billing or pay 6 to 12 months in advance.

You will receive a renewal notice 30 days before your membership dues payment is again due if you do not choose recurring billing payment methods.

Bank Draft - The draft of your membership dues and POLDF premium is taken from your bank account automatically on the 15th of each month. To initiate a bank draft please send the State Office:

a check marked "void" from the account you would like to have drafted;

a check for your first month membership dues with legal;

your completed membership application.

Payroll deduction policies and availability vary considerably.

You must first contact your employer's payroll department to find out if payroll deduction is an option available to you.

If available, please arrange for your monthly dues to be deducted by the department. Be sure to give a copy of your application to the payroll department as well as to the State Office. The TMPA State Office cannot initiate deductions from your pay check.

Please be certain to mail your completed application to the TMPA State Office. Otherwise, we may not know of your membership and without your address we will be unable to mail you important membership information.

Why do we have a Political Action Committee?

In order to assist political candidates, such as making a contribution to off-set the expenses of running for office, or to advertise the Association's endorsement of a candidate we must have a PAC due to regulations and state law regarding the political process.

What does a PAC do?

A Political Action Committee (PAC) is merely a clearinghouse, authorized by law and regulated through the Texas Ethics Commission, to process small donations from a large number of contributors with like interests in the political process. A PAC makes donations to candidates and conducts research of various issues. Peace Officers are a special interest group like any other trade, profession, or cause. A PAC provides the legal means to lobby and express support for or opposition to issues important to police. The TMPA PAC supports legislators with contributions to their political campaigns. It is very important for long-term success, to express support for politicians who share our position on any number of issues. We must then continue to support elected officials as they pass laws or ordinances, which impact officers rights and working conditions.

I have concerns that PACs are a dirty way to conduct business and improperly influence elected officials; Is there not a better way to accomplish our mission?

PACs receive negative connotations because some PACs represent unpopular views. A PAC does not influence, it provides access (unless there is corruption of the established process). Without access, TMPA and any other organization that represents a special interest is powerless to effect positive change. Teachers, pilots, doctors, fire fighters, police officers, and many other trade organizations are among a host of groups that commonly form PACs to support political candidates who share their views. TMPA does not contribute money to influence the position of a political candidate; we contribute to candidates who most closely support our views on important issues. PACs actually serve to offset the powerful, and often undue influence and access that some government organizations and corporate entities have with elected leaders. PACs exist to give a voice to many who would otherwise not be heard.

Where does the money for the TMPA PAC come from?

The money for the TMPA PAC comes from the voluntary contributions that members authorize when they join or renew their membership to TMPA. The money raised is in addition to dues and legal defense contributions and revenue for the fund depends on these voluntary contributions. If you are a member of TMPA and would like to contribute to our PAC fund, just call the state office at 800-848-2088. Or email us at communications@tmpa.org.

The TMPA mission

"To promote professionalism in Texas law enforcement through education and representation"