The Tradition Begins. . .

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 it, 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 officers.  They and twenty-one others "who were willing to take a change" met on May 14, 1915, and held the first meeting of the Fraternal Order of Police.  They formed the Fort Pitt Lodge #1.

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.  From that small start, the Fraternal Order of Police began growing.  Today, there is nearly 2,000 local lodges representing over 270,000 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.  The FOP are proud professionals working on behalf of law enforcement officers from all ranks and levels of government.