SPOON RIVER VALLEY FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE LODGE #427
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 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 107 years ago lives on with more than 2,100 local lodges and more than 364,000 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.Under the leadership of the last five National presidents and its executive director, the FOP has established itself as the nation’s most prominent voice for law enforcement and our rank-and-file members. Together with the National Legislative Committee, the Center operates the FOP’s Grassroots Action Network to establish and strengthen relationships on Capitol Hill. The Center’s staff maintains and expands these relationships by amplifying the voices of rank-and-file officers in all the halls of power in Washington, D.C.
The FOP’s influence on public safety and policing issues is second to none. Presidents and members of Congress from both parties have consistently sought the FOP’s views on the most pressing public safety and policing issues of the day. There is virtually no public safety or policing bill enacted in recent memory that was not influenced by the National FOP.
The Center also serves as the public face of the FOP and works to connect our National, State and local lodge leadership with the media to help shape the social narrative around policing issues across the country. In partnership with the FOP Marketing Committee, the Center manages our social media platforms to raise awareness about our profession and the brave men and women who serve in blue.
Our National FOP Political Action Committee (NFOP PAC) is administered by the Center’s staff and coordinates closely with the National PAC Committee to make sure candidates who support our agenda get the support they need to win elections. The Center uses the NFOP PAC to help advance our policy goals and make sure our voice is heard on the issues and the FOP’s priorities.
Finally, the Center produces the FOP Weekly Update, a key resource to help our members stay informed on the legislation that is pertinent to law enforcement. It is also a great way to stay up to date on what the FOP is doing for our members in Washington, D.C. This one-of-a-kind weekly update is available to all members through the NFOP Mobile App, or you can sign up to receive the update via email below
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 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 107 years ago lives on with more than 2,100 local lodges and more than 364,000 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.Under the leadership of the last five National presidents and its executive director, the FOP has established itself as the nation’s most prominent voice for law enforcement and our rank-and-file members. Together with the National Legislative Committee, the Center operates the FOP’s Grassroots Action Network to establish and strengthen relationships on Capitol Hill. The Center’s staff maintains and expands these relationships by amplifying the voices of rank-and-file officers in all the halls of power in Washington, D.C.
The FOP’s influence on public safety and policing issues is second to none. Presidents and members of Congress from both parties have consistently sought the FOP’s views on the most pressing public safety and policing issues of the day. There is virtually no public safety or policing bill enacted in recent memory that was not influenced by the National FOP.
The Center also serves as the public face of the FOP and works to connect our National, State and local lodge leadership with the media to help shape the social narrative around policing issues across the country. In partnership with the FOP Marketing Committee, the Center manages our social media platforms to raise awareness about our profession and the brave men and women who serve in blue.
Our National FOP Political Action Committee (NFOP PAC) is administered by the Center’s staff and coordinates closely with the National PAC Committee to make sure candidates who support our agenda get the support they need to win elections. The Center uses the NFOP PAC to help advance our policy goals and make sure our voice is heard on the issues and the FOP’s priorities.
Finally, the Center produces the FOP Weekly Update, a key resource to help our members stay informed on the legislation that is pertinent to law enforcement. It is also a great way to stay up to date on what the FOP is doing for our members in Washington, D.C. This one-of-a-kind weekly update is available to all members through the NFOP Mobile App, or you can sign up to receive the update via email below