West Virginia Code 15-2-13 – Limitations upon members; exceptions
(a) No member of the West Virginia state police may in any way interfere with the rights or property of any person except for the prevention of crime.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 15-2-13
- Caucus: From the Algonquian Indian language, a caucus meant "to meet together." An informal organization of members of the legislature that exists to discuss issues of mutual concern and possibly to perform legislative research and policy planning for its members. There are regional, political or ideological, ethnic, and economic-based caucuses.
- Employee: means any person regularly employed in the service of the agency as a law-enforcement officer before March 12, 1994, and who is eligible to participate in the fund. See West Virginia Code 15-2-25b
- Member: means any person who has contributions standing to his or her credit in the fund and who has not yet entered into retirement status. See West Virginia Code 15-2-25b
- State: when applied to a part of the United States and not restricted by the context, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" also include the said district and territories. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
(b) No member of the State Police may in any way become active or take part in any political contest or at any time participate in any political party caucus, committee, assembly or convention or in any primary, general, or special election while in uniform, except to cast his or her ballot.
(c) No member of the State Police may be detailed or ordered to duty at or near any voting precinct where any election or convention is held on the day of an election or convention; nor may any member thereof remain in, about or near the voting precinct or place of convention, except to cast his or her vote. After voting he or she shall forthwith retire from the voting precinct. No member may act as an election official. If any member of the State Police is found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this section, he or she shall be dismissed by the superintendent as hereinafter provided.
(d) While out of uniform and off duty, no member of the State Police may participate in any political activity except to:
(1) Campaign for and hold office in political clubs and organizations;
(2) Actively campaign for candidates for public office in partisan and nonpartisan elections; and
(3) Contribute money to political organizations and attend political fund-raising functions.
(e) No member of the State Police may at any time:
(1) Be a candidate for public office in a nonpartisan or partisan election;
(2) Use official authority or influence to interfere with or affect the results of an election or nomination; or
(3) Directly or indirectly coerce contributions from subordinates in support of a political party or candidate.
(f) No officer or member of the State Police may, in any labor trouble or dispute between employer and employee, aid or assist either party thereto, but shall in these cases see that the statutes and laws of this state are enforced in a legal way and manner.