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 did not
like this, but there was little they could do to change their working conditions. There
were no organizations to make their voice 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 1955,
the idea of a
National
Organization of
Police Officers came
about. Today, the
tradition that was
first envisioned
over 84 years ago
lives on with nearly
2,000 local lodges
and 280,000 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.
