History of the FOP
From a meeting of 23 patrol officers in Pittsburgh to the largest professional police organization in the United States.
Pittsburgh, 1915
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 officers.
On May 14, 1915, they and 21 others "who were willing to take a chance" met 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.
"To bring our aggrievances before the Mayor or Council and have many things adjusted that we are unable to present in any other way."— FOP founders, to Pittsburgh Mayor Joe Armstrong
And so it began — a tradition of police officers representing police officers. Mayor Armstrong soon congratulated the FOP for its "strong influence in the legislatures in various states," its "considerate and charitable efforts" on behalf of officers in need, and the FOP's "efforts at increasing the public confidence toward the police."
A national organization
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 first envisioned over a century ago lives on with more than 2,200 local lodges and more than 330,000 members across 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 remained true to the tradition and continued to build on it.
The meaning of the FOP logo
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 the center of the star is a blue field representative of the thin blue line protecting those we serve. The points are gold, indicating 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, Fidus, Libertatum — translated, "Law is a Safeguard of Freedom."
For a more in-depth history, see The Fraternal Order of Police, 1915–1976: A History by Justin E. Walsh, Ph.D., first published in 1977 and reprinted in 2001 with a new foreword by Past National President Gilbert Gallegos. The reprinted book can be ordered by calling the Grand Lodge at (615) 399-0900.