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| Representing
Kansas City's Finest |
History
of the Fraternal Order of Police |
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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
aggrievances 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 1955, the
idea of a National Organization of Police Officers
came about. Today, the tradition that was first
envisioned 90 years ago lives on with more than
2,100 local lodges and more than 321,000 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.
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About the FOP Star
The
emblem adopted by the National Fraternal Order of
Police is designed to remind the membership of the
duties that are expected of them as a citizen, a
police officer and a member of the lodge. The five-cornered
star tends to remind us of the allegiance we owe
to our Flag and is a symbol of the authority with
which we are entrusted. It is an honor the people
we serve bestow upon us. They place their confidence
and trust in us; serve them proudly.
Midway
between the points and center of the star is a blue
field representative of the thin blue line protecting
those we serve. The points are of gold, which indicates
the position under which we are now serving. The
background is white, the unstained color representing
the purity with which we should serve. We shall
not let anything corrupt be injected into our order.
Therefore, our colors are blue, gold and white.
The
open eye is the eye of vigilance ever looking for
danger and protecting all those under its care while
they sleep or while awake. The clasped hands denote
friendship. The hand of friendship is always extended
to those in need of our comfort.
The
circle surrounding the star midway indicates our
never ending efforts to promote the welfare and
advancement of this order. Within the half circle
over the centerpiece is our motto, "Jus, Fides,
Libertatum" which translated means "Law
Is a Safeguard of Freedom."
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A
book entitled "The Fraternal Order of Police,
1915-1976: A History" by Justin E. Walsh, Ph.D.,
was first published in 1977. The book was reprinted
in 2001 with a new foreward by Past National President
Gilbert Gallegos. The reprinted book is available
to FOP members by calling the Grand Lodge at 615.399.0900.
The Library of Congress Catalog Card Number is 77-89730. |
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| Click
HERE
to peruse the history of the original 1969 Kansas
City Police Officers Association and a manual from
the first KCFOP Lodge. |
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Click
HERE
for the history of the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police. |
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