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A Brief History of the Fraternal Order of
Police
In 1915, the life of a policeman was bleak. In many
communities they were forced to work 12 hour days, 365 days a year.
Police officers didn't like it, but there was little they could do
to change their working conditions. There were no organizations to
make their voices heard; no other means to make their grievances
known.
This soon changed, thanks to the courage and wisdom of two
Pittsburgh patrol officers. Martin Toole and Delbert Nagle knew they
must first organize police officers, like other labor interests, if
they were to be successful in making life better for themselves and
their fellow police officers. They and 21 others "who were willing
to take a chance" met on May 14, 1915, and held the first meeting of
the Fraternal Order of Police. They formed Fort Pitt Lodge #1. They
decided on this name due to the anti-union sentiment of the time.
However, there was no mistaking their intentions. As they told their
city mayor, Joe Armstrong, the FOP would be the means "to bring our
grievances before the Mayor or Council and have many things adjusted
that we are unable to present in any other way...we could get many
things through our legislature that our Council will not, or cannot
give us."
And so it began, a tradition of police officers representing police
officers. The Fraternal Order of Police was given life by two
dedicated police officers determined to better their profession and
those who choose to protect and serve our communities, our states,
and our country. It was not long afterward that Mayor Armstrong was
congratulating the Fraternal Order of Police for their "strong
influence in the legislatures in various states,...their considerate
and charitable efforts" on behalf of the officers in need and for
the FOP's "efforts at increasing the public confidence toward the
police to the benefit of the peace, as well as the public."
From that small beginning the Fraternal Order of Police began
growing steadily. In 1917, the idea of a National Organization of
Police Officers came about. Today, the tradition that was first
envisioned over 90 years ago lives on with more than 2,100 local
lodges and more than 325,000 members in the United States. The
Fraternal Order of Police has become the largest professional police
organization in the country. The FOP continues to grow because we
have been true to the tradition and continued to build on it. The
Fraternal Order of Police are proud professionals working on behalf
of law enforcement officers from all ranks and levels of government.
Note: Above material provided by the National
Grand Lodge.
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Meeting Night:
Our meetings are
held on the 2nd
Thursday of each
month at
7:00 pm.
FOPA Meeting:
Our meetings are
held on the 2nd
Thursday of each
Month at 7:00 pm.
Banquet Hall Rental:
Telphone:513-432-1389
See our link to the left
for further information.
Cops And Kids
Christmas Program:
Was a success. We
were able to give
70 Kids a great
Christmas..
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