Jump to content

National Fraternal Order of Police: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m extra line break
→Controversies: tweaked wording
 
(236 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|US fraternal organization of police officers}}
[[Image:FratPolice.jpg|250px|thumb|right|]]
{{Third-party|date=December 2015}}
⚫
The '''Fraternal Order of Police''' ('''FOP''') is a fraternal organization consisting of [[Oath|sworn]] [[law enforcement officer]]s in the [[United States]]. It reports a membership of over 325,000 members organized in 2100 [[Local union|local]] chapters (lodges), organized into local lodges, [[U.S. state|state]] lodges, and the national Grand Lodge. The organization attempts to improve the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those they serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation. <ref name="FAQ">"[http://www.fop.net/about/faq/index.shtml# Frequently Asked Questions]." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref>
{{use mdy dates |date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Fraternal Order of Police
| full_name = National Fraternal Order of Police
| abbreviation = FOP
| image = FratPolice.jpg
| caption = FOP star
| founded = {{Start date|1915}}
| predecessor =
| successor =
| dissolved =
| merged =
| members = 373,000 (2023)
| publication =
| location_country= [[United States]]
| affiliation =
| key_people = Patrick Yoes (President)
| headquarters = [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
| website = {{URL|fop.net}}
| footnotes =
}}


⚫
The '''National Fraternal Order of Police''' ('''FOP''') is a [[Benefit society|fraternal organization]] consisting of sworn [[law enforcement officer]]s in the United States. It reports a membership of over 355,000 members organized in 2,100 local chapters (lodges), [[U.S. state|state]] lodges, and the national Grand Lodge. The organization attempts to improve the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those they serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation.<ref name="FAQ">"[https://fop.net/Faq.aspx Frequently Asked Questions] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509124243/http://www.fop.net/about/faq/index.shtml |archive-date=2008-05-09 }}." Fraternal Order of Police. Retrieved June 19, 2020.</ref>
⚫
FOP subordinate lodges may be [[trade unions]] and/or Fraternal Organizations, as the FOP has both Labor Lodges & Fraternal Lodges and describes itself as a "full service member representation organization."<ref name="FAQ"/> It [[Lobbying|lobbies]] [[United States Congress|Congress]] and regulatory agencies on behalf of law enforcement officers, provides labor representation, promotes [[legal defense]] for officers, and offers resources such as [[legal research]]. It also sponsors charities such as [[Easter Seals]], [[Special Olympics]], memorials for fallen officers, and support programs for spouses and family members of police officers.

⚫
FOP subordinate lodges may be [[Police unions in the United States|police union]]s and/or fraternal organizations, as the FOP has both Labor Lodges and Fraternal Lodges, and describes itself as a "full service member representation organization."<ref name="FAQ"/> It [[Lobbying|lobbies]] [[United States Congress|Congress]] and regulatory agencies on behalf of law enforcement officers, provides labor representation, promotes legal defense for officers, and offers resources such as "legal research."


==History==
==History==
[[File:FOP Ft Pitt Lodge -1 jeh.jpg|thumb|Fort Pitt Lodge # 1, Pittsburgh]]
The Fraternal Order of Police was founded in 1915 by two [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]] patrol officers, Martin Toole and Delbert Nagle. They and 21 other members of the [[Pittsburgh Police]] met on May 14, 1915, establishing the Fraternal Order of Police its first local, Fort Pitt Lodge #1.<ref name="History">"[http://www.fop.net/about/history/index.shtml History]." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref> The FOP official history states that the founders decided to not use the term "union" because of "the anti-union sentiment of the time," but nevertheless acted as a union, telling [[List of mayors of Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh mayor]] [[Joseph G. Armstrong]] that the FOP would "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."<ref name="History"/>
The Fraternal Order of Police was founded in 1915 by two [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], patrol officers, Martin Toole and Delbert Nagle.<ref name="pittsburghpressbrutality">{{cite news |last1=Hasch |first1=Mike |title=Brutality, competence questions facing FOP as it convenes here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/144008956/?terms=%22Delbert%2BNagle%22 |access-date=December 28, 2018 |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=August 11, 1991|page=6|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|url-access=registration }}</ref> They and 21 other members of the [[Pittsburgh Police|Pittsburgh Bureau of Police]] met on May 14, 1915, establishing the first local of the Fraternal Order of Police, Fort Pitt Lodge #1.<ref name="History">"[http://www.fop.net/about/history/index.shtml History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924090042/http://www.fop.net/about/history/index.shtml |date=2008-09-24 }}." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref> The FOP official history states that the founders decided to not use the term "union" because of "the anti-union sentiment of the time," but nevertheless acted as a union, telling [[List of mayors of Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh mayor]] [[Joseph G. Armstrong]] that the FOP would "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."<ref name="History"/>


In 1918, it was decided that the Order should become a national organization. The Orders constitution stated that "race, Creed or Color shall be no bar". The constitution also had a no strike pledge, but this has not been enforced since 1967 when FOP police in [[Youngstown, Ohio]] refused to work during a salary dispute. In 1974 and 1975 the FOP stated that it would take no action against members who violated the anti-strike clause until all efforts were exhausted on the local and state level.<ref>Schmidt, Alvin J. ''Fraternal Organizations'' Westport, CT; Greenwood Press pp.263-4</ref>
In 1918, it was decided that the Order should become a national organization. The Order's constitution stated that "Race, Creed or Color shall be no bar". The constitution also had a no strike pledge, but this has not been enforced since 1967 when FOP police in [[Youngstown, Ohio]] refused to work during a salary dispute. In 1974 and 1975 the FOP stated that it would take no action against members who violated the anti-strike clause until all efforts were exhausted on the local and state level.<ref>Schmidt, Alvin J. ''Fraternal Organizations'' Westport, CT; Greenwood Press pp.263-4</ref>


During the 1960s the FOP opposed the creation of police review boards, spearheaded by [[Robert F. Kennedy]], at one point describing them as a "sinister movement against law enforcement". The FOP also clashed with the [[ACLU]] on the issue of [[Police brutality in the United States|police brutality]], seeing it as a "liberal attempt to discredit law enforcement". The Order was "heartened by [[Richard Nixon]]'s emphasis on law and order", though it remained strictly apolitical.<ref>Schmidt p.264</ref>
During the 1960s the FOP opposed the creation of [[Civilian police oversight agency|police review boards]], spearheaded by [[Robert F. Kennedy]], at one point describing them as a "sinister movement against law enforcement". The FOP also clashed with the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU) on the issue of [[Police brutality in the United States|police brutality]], seeing it as a "liberal attempt to discredit law enforcement". The Order was "heartened by [[Richard Nixon]]'s emphasis on law and order", though it claimed to remain strictly apolitical.<ref>Schmidt p.264</ref>


==Emblem and motto==
==Emblem and motto==
The Fraternal Order of Police [[emblem]] is a [[five-pointed star]]. According to the FOP:
The Fraternal Order of Police emblem is a five-pointed star. According to the FOP:


{{quote|The five-cornered star tends to remind us of the [[allegiance]] we owe to [[Flag of the United States|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.<br />Midway between the points and center of the star is a blue field representative of the [[The Thin Blue Line (emblem)|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.<br />The open eye is the [[Eye of Providence|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" which translated means "Law is a Safeguard of Freedom."<ref name="Star">"[http://www.fop.net/about/history/star.shtml About the FOP Star]." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref>}}
{{blockquote|The five-cornered star tends to remind us of the allegiance we owe to [[Flag of the United States|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.<br />Midway between the points and center of the star is a blue field representative of the [[The Thin Blue Line (emblem)|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.<br />The open eye is the [[Eye of Providence|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" which translated means "Law is a Safeguard of Freedom."<ref name="Star">"[http://www.fop.net/about/history/star.shtml About the FOP Star] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512005420/http://www.fop.net/about/history/star.shtml |date=2008-05-12 }}." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref>}}


When adopted, the motto was believed to be [[Latin]] and assumed to mean "Fairness, Justice, Equality" or "Justice, Friendship, Equality". Actually, the motto is a grammatically impossible and hardly translatable sequence of Latin words; the current interpretation is the best that could be made of it.<ref>Justin E. Walsh, Ph.D. ''Fraternal Order of Police 1915—1976: A History''. Turner Publishing Company, 2004, [http://books.google.com/books?id=3yyCKRB6EOQC&pg=PA18 pp.&nbsp;18–20]. ISBN 978-1-56311-726-8.</ref>
When adopted, the motto was believed to be [[Latin]] and assumed to mean "Fairness, Justice, Equality" or "Justice, Friendship, Equality". Actually, the motto is a grammatically impossible and hardly translatable sequence of Latin words; the current interpretation is the best that could be made of it.<ref>Justin E. Walsh, Ph.D. ''Fraternal Order of Police 1915—1976: A History''. Turner Publishing Company, 2004, [https://books.google.com/books?id=3yyCKRB6EOQC&pg=PA18 pp.&nbsp;18–20]. {{ISBN|978-1-56311-726-8}}.</ref>


In the center of the star is the [[coat of arms]] of the city of [[Pittsburgh]].
In the center of the star is the [[coat of arms]] of [[Flag of Pittsburgh#Coat of arms and seal|Pittsburgh]], itself based on [[William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham|William Pitt]]'s own coat of arms.


== Organization and Membership==
== Organization and membership==
The FOP [[constitution]] and [[bylaw]]s provide that active membership is open to "any regularly appointed or [[Election|elected]] and [[full-time]] employed [[List of United States federal law enforcement agencies|law enforcement officer of the United States]], [[List of United States state and local law enforcement agencies|any state or political subdivision thereof]], or any agency may be eligible for membership" and that "each state and subordinate lodge shall be the judge of its membership." Local lodges often have provisions for retired law enforcement officers.<ref name="Members">"[http://www.fop.net/about/join/index.shtml How to Join]." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref> The subordinate lodges are supported by state lodges which are subordinate to the Grand Lodge. <ref>[http://www.floridastatefop.org/local_lodges.asp]</ref> <ref>{{Cite news | first=Matt | last=Reed | title=GOP should tread lightly | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110407/COLUMNISTS0207/104070314/Matt-Reed-GOP-should-tread-lightly| work= | newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages= 1B | date=April 7, 2011 | id= | accessdate=}}</ref> TheGrandLodge is the national structure of the order.<ref>Schmidt p.265</ref>
The FOP [[constitution]] and [[bylaw]]s provide that active membership is open to "any regularly appointed or elected and full-time employed law enforcement officer of the United States, any state or political subdivision thereof, or any agency may be eligible for membership" and that "each state and subordinate lodge shall be the judge of its membership." Local lodges often have provisions for retired law enforcement officers.<ref name="Members">"[http://www.fop.net/about/join/index.shtml How to Join] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603000328/http://www.fop.net/about/join/index.shtml |date=2008-06-03 }}." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref> The subordinate lodges are supported by state lodges which are subordinate to the Grand Lodge.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.floridastatefop.org/local_lodges.asp | title=Florida State FOP | access-date=2011-04-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113124153/http://www.floridastatefop.org/local_lodges.asp | archive-date=2012-01-13 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | first=Matt | last=Reed | title=GOP should tread lightly | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110407/COLUMNISTS0207/104070314/Matt-Reed-GOP-should-tread-lightly | newspaper=[[Florida Today]] | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages=1B | date=April 7, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626150436/http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110407/COLUMNISTS0207/104070314/Matt-Reed-GOP-should-tread-lightly | archive-date=June 26, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> The Grand Lodge is the national structure of the order.<ref name="Schmidt p.265">Schmidt p.265</ref>


In 1978, the Order had 138,472 members, 1,250 lodges and 34 state structures.<ref>Schmidt p.265</ref>
In 1978, the Order had 138,472 members, 1,250 lodges and 34 state structures.<ref name="Schmidt p.265"/>


In the late 1970s, the Order's headquarters were located in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]].<ref>Schmidt p.265</ref>
In the late 1970s, the Order's headquarters were located in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]].<ref name="Schmidt p.265"/>
The national organization has three offices: the Labor Services Division in [[Columbus, Ohio]], the Steve Young Law Enforcement Legislative Advocacy Center in [[Washington, D.C.]], and the Grand Lodge "Atnip-Orms Center" National Headquarters in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref name="Contact">"[http://www.fop.net/contact/index.shtml Contact Us]." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref>
The national organization has three offices: the Labor Services Division in [[Columbus, Ohio]], the Steve Young Law Enforcement Legislative Advocacy Center in [[Washington, D.C.]], and the Grand Lodge "Atnip-Orms Center" National Headquarters in [[Nashville, Tennessee]].<ref name="Contact">"[http://www.fop.net/contact/index.shtml Contact Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513084714/http://www.fop.net/contact/index.shtml |date=2008-05-13 }}." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref>


===Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary===
===Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary===
The '''Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary (FOPA)''' is the auxiliary organization of FOP for family members of FOP members. It was formed by a group of wives of Pittsburgh police officers in 1920, and Kathryn M. Milton became its first national president, in 1941 as the '''Fraternal Order of Police Ladies Auxiliary'''. It reports over 2,000 members in 140 Auxiliaries in 25 states. In 1985, non-female members older than 18 were admitted for the first time; in 1987, the current name was adopted, dropping the term "Ladies."<ref name="Auxiliary">"[http://www.fop.net/about/auxiliary/index.shtml Auxiliary]." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref>
The '''Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary (FOPA)''' is the auxiliary organization of FOP for family members of FOP members. It was formed by a group of wives of Pittsburgh police officers in 1920, and Kathryn M. Milton became its first national president, in 1941 as the '''Fraternal Order of Police Ladies Auxiliary'''. It reports over 2,000 members in 140 Auxiliaries in 25 states. In 1985, males older than 18 were admitted for the first time; in 1987, the current name was adopted, dropping the term "Ladies."<ref name="Auxiliary">"[http://www.fop.net/about/auxiliary/index.shtml Auxiliary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612175113/http://www.fop.net/about/auxiliary/index.shtml |date=2008-06-12 }}." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref>


===Fraternal Order of Police Associates===
===Fraternal Order of Police Associates===
The '''Fraternal Order of Police Associates''' ('''FOPA''') is a civilian affiliate organization that is made up of FOP supporters not eligible for membership. Its members include friends and family of members, [[Businessperson|businesspeople]], [[professional]]s, and other citizens. It is a [[501(c)|501(c)(3)]] [[Tax exemption|tax-exempt]] organization.<ref name="FOPA">"[http://www.fop.net/about/associates/index.shtml Fraternal Order of Police Associates]." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref>
The '''Fraternal Order of Police Associates''' ('''FOPA''') is a civilian affiliate organization that is made up of FOP supporters not eligible for membership. Its members include friends and family of members, businesspeople, professionals, and other citizens. It is a [[501(c)|501(c)(3)]] [[Tax exemption|tax-exempt]] organization.<ref name="FOPA">"[http://www.fop.net/about/associates/index.shtml Fraternal Order of Police Associates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513084735/http://www.fop.net/about/associates/index.shtml |date=2008-05-13 }}." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref>


==Political advocacy==
==Political advocacy==
Passed legislation supported by FOP includes the [[Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act]], [[Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act]], and [[HELPS Retirees Act]]. Pending legislation that FOP lobbies for include the [[Social Security Fairness Act]], the [[Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007]], and the [[State and Local Law Enforcement Officers' Discipline, Accountability and Due Process Act]].
Passed legislation supported by FOP includes the [[Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act]], [[Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act]], and [[HELPS Retirees Act]]. Pending legislation that FOP lobbies for include the [[Social Security Fairness Act]], the [[Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007]], and the [[State and Local Law Enforcement Officers' Discipline, Accountability and Due Process Act]].


The FOP distributes [[questionnaire]]s for candidates for [[President of the United States|president]] and [[United States Congress|Congress]] asking them about their views on issues relating to police officers.<ref name="Questionnaire1">"[http://www.fop.net/legislative/congquest08.pdf Congressional Candidate Questionnaire: Model Questionnaire for use by State and Local Lodges]." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref><ref name="McCain">"[http://www.fop.net/legislative/president08/McCainQA.pdf Fraternal Order of Police Presidential Questionnaire: John McCain Response]." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref><ref name="Obama">"[http://www.fop.net/legislative/president08/ObamaQA.pdf Fraternal Order of Police Presidential Questionnaire: Barack Obama Response]." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref>
The FOP distributes questionnaires for candidates for U.S. president and Congress asking them about their views on issues relating to police officers.<ref name="Questionnaire1">"[http://www.fop.net/legislative/congquest08.pdf Congressional Candidate Questionnaire: Model Questionnaire for use by State and Local Lodges] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724171205/http://www.fop.net/legislative/congquest08.pdf |date=2008-07-24 }}." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref><ref name="McCain">"[http://www.fop.net/legislative/president08/McCainQA.pdf Fraternal Order of Police Presidential Questionnaire: John McCain Response] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911164310/http://www.fop.net/legislative/president08/McCainQA.pdf |date=2008-09-11 }}." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref><ref name="Obama">"[http://www.fop.net/legislative/president08/ObamaQA.pdf Fraternal Order of Police Presidential Questionnaire: Barack Obama Response] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911164312/http://www.fop.net/legislative/president08/ObamaQA.pdf |date=2008-09-11 }}." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref>


FOP has the following issue positions:
FOP has the following issue positions:
*Supports the [[Social Security Fairness Act]],<ref name="SocialSecurity">"[http://www.fop.net/legislative/issues/social/index.shtml Social Security Issues]." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref> which would repeal the [[Windfall Elimination Provision]] (WEP) and the [[Government Pension Offset]] (GPO) in current law.<ref name="S. 206">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-206 H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act of 2007]." GovTrack.</ref><ref name="H.R. 82">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-82 H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act of 2007]." GovTrack.</ref>
*Supports the Social Security Fairness Act,<ref name="SocialSecurity">"[http://www.fop.net/legislative/issues/social/index.shtml Social Security Issues] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724171301/http://www.fop.net/legislative/issues/social/index.shtml |date=2008-07-24 }}." Fraternal Order of Police.</ref> which would repeal the [[Windfall Elimination Provision]] (WEP) and the [[Government Pension Offset]] (GPO) in current law.<ref name="S. 206">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-206 H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act of 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012165726/http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-206 |date=2008-10-12 }}." GovTrack.</ref><ref name="H.R. 82">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-82 H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act of 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009005250/http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-82 |date=2008-10-09 }}." GovTrack.</ref>
*Supports the recommendations of the [[President's Commission To Strengthen Social Security]] to [[Social Security debate (United States)#President Bush's privatization proposal|privatize Social Security]], and opposes "mandating participation in the [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] system for either current or newly hired State and local government employees that do not currently participate in Social Security.
*Supports the recommendations of the [[President's Commission To Strengthen Social Security]] to [[Social Security debate (United States)#President Bush's privatization proposal|privatize Social Security]], and opposes "mandating participation in the Social Security system for either current or newly hired state and local government employees that do not currently participate in Social Security.
*Supports "minimal [[collective bargaining]] rights for public safety employees," including law enforcement officers and [[firefighter]]s, and supports the [[Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007]].<ref name="H.R. 980">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-980 H.R. 980: Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007]." GovTrack.</ref>
*Supports "minimal [[collective bargaining]] rights for public safety employees," including law enforcement officers and firefighters, and supports the [[Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007]].<ref name="H.R. 980">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-980 H.R. 980: Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901223459/http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-980 |date=2008-09-01 }}." GovTrack.</ref>
*Supports [[due process]] rights of law enforcement officers in non-criminal administrative proceedings and supports the [[State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability and Due Process Act]].<ref name="H.R. 688">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-688 H.R. 688: State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2007]." GovTrack.</ref><ref name="S. 449">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-449 S. 449: State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2007]." GovTrack.</ref>
*Supports [[due process]] rights of law enforcement officers in non-criminal administrative proceedings and supports the State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability and Due Process Act.<ref name="H.R. 688">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-688 H.R. 688: State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829221532/http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-688 |date=2008-08-29 }}." GovTrack.</ref><ref name="S. 449">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-449 S. 449: State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012122348/http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-449 |date=2008-10-12 }}." GovTrack.</ref>
*Supports the [[Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act]], which would expand the definition of "law enforcement officer" under the [[Civil Service Retirement System]] and the [[Federal Employees Retirement System]] to include all Federal police officers, as well as [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection|Customs and Immigration Inspectors]].<ref name="H.R. 1073">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1073 H.R. 1073: Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act]." GovTrack.</ref><ref name="S. 1354">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1354 S. 1354: Law Enforcement Officers Retirement Equity Act]." GovTrack.</ref>
*Supports the Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act, which would expand the definition of "law enforcement officer" under the [[Civil Service Retirement System]] and the [[Federal Employees Retirement System]] to include all U.S. federal police officers, as well as [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection|Customs and Immigration Inspectors]].<ref name="H.R. 1073">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1073 H.R. 1073: Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080831052714/http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1073 |date=2008-08-31 }}." GovTrack.</ref><ref name="S. 1354">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1354 S. 1354: Law Enforcement Officers Retirement Equity Act] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080831074826/http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-1354 |date=2008-08-31 }}." GovTrack.</ref>
*Supports the [[REAL ID Act]].
*Supports the [[REAL ID Act]].
*In response to the [[2014 killings of NYPD officers]], then President [[Kenneth Charles Canterbury, Jr.|Chuck Canterbury]] asked Congress to consider making crimes against police officers fall under the category of [[hate crimes]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/police-union-wants-protection-under-hate-crime-law-113976.html#ixzz3Y5B26xv1| title=Police union wants protection under hate crime law| publisher=Politico| date=January 5, 2015| access-date=April 22, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404143709/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/police-union-wants-protection-under-hate-crime-law-113976.html#ixzz3Y5B26xv1| archive-date=April 4, 2015| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/local/2015/02/28/police-want-violence-officers-hate-crime/23687055/| title=Police want violence against officers to be hate crime| publisher=The News Star| date=February 28, 2015| access-date=April 22, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111084023/https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/local/2015/02/28/police-want-violence-officers-hate-crime/23687055/| archive-date=January 11, 2020| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.fop.net/servlet/display/news_article?id=6015&XSL=xsl_pages%2Fpublic_news_individual.xsl&nocache=439098| title=Enough Is Enough: FOP President Calls on Congress to Expand Hate Crimes Law to Protect Police| publisher=FOP| date=January 5, 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706093142/http://www.fop.net/servlet/display/news_article?id=6015&XSL=xsl_pages%2Fpublic_news_individual.xsl&nocache=439098| archive-date=July 6, 2015}}</ref>

In 2008, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 53, Eddison Ricketts, wrote Broward County Sheriff [[Scott Israel]] that the union supported him.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/384365-law-enforcement-group-throws-support-behind-broward-co-sheriff-amid/|title=Law enforcement group supports Broward Co. sheriff amid call for no-confidence vote|first=Luis|last=Sanchez|newspaper=The Hill |date=April 22, 2018}}</ref>

On September 16, 2016, the FOP endorsed [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] candidate [[Donald Trump]] for U.S. president.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fop.net/CmsDocument/Doc/pr_2016-0916.pdf|title=Fraternal Order of Police Endorses Trump|date=16 September 2016|website=Fraternal Order of Police|access-date=16 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208044239/https://fop.net/CmsDocument/Doc/pr_2016-0916.pdf|archive-date=8 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> This endorsement was opposed by [[Blacks in Law Enforcement of America]] for not reflecting the will of the membership.<ref name="nbc">{{Cite news |last=Siemaszko |first=Corky |date=September 22, 2016 |title=Black cops at odds with police union over Trump endorsement |language=en |work=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/black-cops-odds-fraternal-order-police-over-trump-endorsement-n652071 |access-date=2021-05-08}}</ref><ref name="star">{{Cite news |last=Love |first=David |date=2017-09-07 |title=Does the Fraternal Order of Police Have A Black People Problem? |language=en-US |work=Atlanta Black Star |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2017/09/07/fraternal-order-police-black-people-problem/ |access-date=2021-05-08}}</ref> It endorsed Trump again on September 4, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singman |first1=Brooke |title=Fraternal Order of Police endorses Trump in 2020 race |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fraternal-order-of-police-endorses-trump |work=Fox News |date=4 September 2020}}</ref>

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FOP vehemently opposed vaccine requirements for police.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=As some police fight vaccine rules, DeSantis says Florida will pay them $5,000 to relocate: 'We'll treat you better'|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/10/25/desantis-offers-5k-bonus-outofstate-unvaccinated-officers/|access-date=2021-10-25|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> COVID-19 was the top killer of police officers in 2020 and 2021.<ref name=":0" />

On September 6, 2024, The FOP officially endorsed Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. This marks the third time the police union has backed Trump.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-police-crime-law-enforcement-de5662eb889fb5dd75a893e1871b3400 | title=Trump accepts key endorsement from police union while celebrating sentencing delay on felony charges | website=[[Associated Press News]] }}</ref>

===Boycotts===
The National Fraternal Order of Police has called for [[boycott]]s of various individuals and organizations throughout its history. In August 1999, the Fraternal Order of Police called for a boycott against all individuals and organizations that support [[Mumia Abu-Jamal]], a journalist who was convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer in 1981.<ref>{{cite press release | title=FOP attacks supporters of convicted cop killer | publisher=Fraternal Order of Police | date=August 11, 1999 | url=http://www.fop.net/servlet/display/news_article?id=177&XSL=xsl_pages%2fpublic_news_individual.xsl | access-date=2008-01-22 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012094209/http://www.fop.net/servlet/display/news_article?id=177&XSL=xsl_pages%2Fpublic_news_individual.xsl | archive-date=October 12, 2007 | df=mdy-all}}</ref> FOP also called for a boycott of the [[Beastie Boys]] and [[Rage Against the Machine]] for their support of Abu-Jamal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hiatt |first1=Brian |title=Cop Group Boycotts Rage Against The Machine, Beastie Boys Over Mumia Abu-Jamal |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/516764/cop-group-boycotts-rage-against-the-machine-beastie-boys-over-mumia-abu-jamal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011172046/http://www.mtv.com/news/516764/cop-group-boycotts-rage-against-the-machine-beastie-boys-over-mumia-abu-jamal/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |work=MTV News |date=August 19, 1999 |language=en}}</ref> In August 2007, FOP called for a boycott of [[eBay]] for selling police equipment.<ref>{{cite web |title=FOP amicus brief for Janus v. AFSCME |url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/16/16-1466/28457/20180119125512794_Janus%20Supreme%20Court%20Brief.pdf |publisher=Supreme Court of the United States |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref> In 2015, the Fraternal Order of Police called for a boycott of [[Quentin Tarantino]]'s films following his comments against police brutality at a protest in New York. The boycott of Tarantino was joined by the [[United States Border Patrol|Border Patrol]], as well as police unions in California, Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lawler |first1=Kelly |title=Quentin Tarantino was 'surprised' by backlash to police brutality remarks |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2015/11/05/quentin-tarantino-police-brutality-comments-backlash-msnbc-interview/75204842/ |work=USA Today |date=November 5, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=Ryan |last2=McClintock |first2=Pamela |title=Largest Police Union Cautions Quentin Tarantino: We've Got a Surprise Coming for You |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fraternal-order-police-quentin-tarantino-837394 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 5, 2015 |language=en}}</ref> After athletic company [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] aired an ad featuring former NFL player [[Colin Kaepernick]] in 2018, FOP condemned it and called it an insult. Fraternal Order of Police president Chuck Canterbury said Kaepernick's views were "uninformed and inflammatory" but declined to call for a boycott, saying that "in our experience, boycotts and similar exercises do not succeed and often serve only to enrich the company."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hindi |first1=Saja |title=Fraternal Order of Police denounces Nike advertisement but opts out of official boycott |url=https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2018/09/07/fort-collins-police-union-shares-national-message-denouncing-nike-ad-opting-out-official-boycott/1215798002/ |work=Coloradoan |date=September 7, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Aside from the national organization, many local police unions have separately called for boycotts.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Skolnik |first1=Jes |title=A History of Police Boycotting Musicians in America |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/1032-a-history-of-police-boycotting-musicians-in-america/ |work=Pitchfork |date=February 25, 2016 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Miami Fraternal Order of Police Plan to Boycott Beyoncé Concert |url=https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/miami-fraternal-order-of-police-plan-to-boycott-beyonces-miami-concert/1985230/ |work=NBC 6 South Florida |date=February 19, 2016}}</ref>

== Data breach ==
In January 2016, the site was hacked and files released to a [[dark web]] activist known as [[Cthulhu (developer)|Cthulhu]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cox|first1=Joseph|title=US Police Organisation Hacked, Documents Posted Online|url=https://motherboard.vice.com/read/us-police-organisation-hacked-documents-posted-online-fraternal-order-of-police|access-date=29 January 2016|date=29 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130092724/http://motherboard.vice.com/read/us-police-organisation-hacked-documents-posted-online-fraternal-order-of-police|archive-date=30 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Joseph|first1=George|title=Hackers post private files of America's biggest police union|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/28/fraternal-order-of-police-hacked-fbi-investigation-data-servers|access-date=29 January 2016|date=29 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129025822/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/28/fraternal-order-of-police-hacked-fbi-investigation-data-servers|archive-date=29 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Controversies==
[[File:spadoor.jpg|right|thumb|Front door of a Providence spa with multiple police stickers]]

In 1991, the FOP was under scrutiny from the public in part because of the [[Rodney King]] incident.<ref name="pittsburghpressbrutality"/> Dewey Stokes, the FOP president at the time, contextualized the incident by saying, "You have to put things in proper perspective. [...] These are not common occurrences. They are the result of stress on the job, emphasis of the system on the criminal and not the victim, and the media's exploitation of the negatives of law enforcement."<ref name="pittsburghpressbrutality"/>

The human rights group [[Amnesty International]] has criticized the Fraternal Order of Police in Philadelphia for their vocal support of the [[death penalty]] in the case of [[Mumia Abu-Jamal]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engAMR510012000 |title=USA: A life in the balance - the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal &#124; Amnesty International |access-date=2008-12-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204231126/http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR510012000 |archive-date=2008-12-04 }}</ref>

Former [[New York City|New York]] mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] has called the FOP a "fringe organization" for opposing his efforts to repeal the [[Tiahrt Amendment]].<ref>{{cite web|title=N.Y. Triggers Gun Stings Nationwide|work=New York Post|date=May 10, 2007|author=David Seifman|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/05102007/news/regionalnews/n_y__triggers_gun_stings_nationwide_regionalnews_david_seifman_____city_hall_bureau_chief.htm|access-date=July 25, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615113537/http://www.nypost.com/seven/05102007/news/regionalnews/n_y__triggers_gun_stings_nationwide_regionalnews_david_seifman_____city_hall_bureau_chief.htm|archive-date=June 15, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On September 18, 2009, ''[[The Providence Journal]]'' reported the Fraternal Order of Police representing several Rhode Island police departments had solicited donations from city massage parlors or "spas". Watchdog groups have claimed that these massage parlors are fronts for prostitution.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.projo.com/news/content/police_and_spas_09-20-09_8PFLRRA_v245.2af21fd.html |title=R.I. police charities solicit donations from 'spas' |last=Arditi|first=Lynn|date=18 September 2009|work=The Providence Journal|access-date=21 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922235439/http://www.projo.com/news/content/police_and_spas_09-20-09_8PFLRRA_v245.2af21fd.html|archive-date=22 September 2009}}</ref>

On August 27, 2017, as the FOP was holding its annual conference at the [[Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center]] in Nashville, Tennessee, protesters compared the FOP to the [[Ku Klux Klan]] by putting up banners on interstate overpasses, one of which read, "Grand Wizards to Grand Lodges. White Supremacy By Another Name".<ref name="tennesseanprotestersblockbroadwaycover">{{cite news|last1=Allison|first1=Natalie|title=Protesters block Broadway, cover Confederate statue in Nashville |url=http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2017/08/28/marchers-cover-confederate-statue-nashville-sheet-erect-bust-black-man-shot-police/610035001/ |access-date=September 2, 2017|work=The Tennessean |date=August 28, 2017|quote=One banner read 'Grand Wizards to Grand Lodges,' the former reference to a Ku Klux Klan leadership position and the latter to the 'lodge' regional grouping structure of the FOP. The phrase was followed by 'White Supremacy By Another Name,' and a drawing of a police badge bearing 'FOP.'}}</ref>

In June 2018, Fraternal Order of Police Tri-County Lodge #3 in South Carolina objected to the inclusion of award-winning novel ''[[The Hate U Give]]'' by [[Angie Thomas]], and ''[[All American Boys]]'' by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely in a high school summer reading list, because of their depictions of violence by police officers.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jul/03/south-carolina-police-object-to-high-school-reading-list |title=South Carolina police object to high-school reading list |last=Flood |first=Alison |date=3 July 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=21 December 2018|language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529153136/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jul/03/south-carolina-police-object-to-high-school-reading-list|archive-date=29 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[National Coalition Against Censorship]] offered the high school support, while prominent authors such as [[Hari Kunzru]] and [[Neil Gaiman]] pointed out the alarming nature of police officers trying to police what children read.

After the May 2020 [[murder of George Floyd]] in [[Minneapolis Police Department|Minneapolis Police]] custody, the FOP said, in part: "...police officers should at all times render aid to those who need it... need to treat all of our citizens with respect and understanding and should be held to the very highest standards for their conduct..."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Police, law enforcement experts condemn knee restraint used on George Floyd |url=https://fox6now.com/2020/05/28/police-law-enforcement-experts-condemn-knee-restraint-used-on-george-floyd/ |date=2020-05-29 |publisher=FOX6Now.com |language=en|access-date=2020-06-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529020430/https://fox6now.com/2020/05/28/police-law-enforcement-experts-condemn-knee-restraint-used-on-george-floyd/|archive-date=2020-05-29|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Protests in city, nation after George Floyd's death|url=https://www.rrstar.com/news/20200530/protests-in-city-nation-after-george-floydrsquos-death|last=Haas|first=Kevin|website=Rockford Register Star|language=en|access-date=2020-06-01}}</ref> In June 2020, the Fraternal Order of Police's [[Brevard County, Florida]] chapter offered on Facebook to recruit police officers from forces involved in police brutality controversies from [[Buffalo Police Department#Niagara Square shoving incident|Buffalo]], [[Atlanta Police Department#Controversies|Atlanta]], and [[Minneapolis Police Department#Murder of George Floyd|Minneapolis]]. The Brevard County sheriff denounced the remarks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Alicia |title=Florida police organization offers to hire cops who were fired or resigned over police misconduct |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/08/us/brevard-county-florida-police-union-misconduct-trnd/index.html |access-date=June 9, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=June 8, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sassoon |first1=Alessandro |last2=Gallop |first2=J. D. |title=Brevard County Fraternal Order of Police: disciplined and jailed cops should apply here |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2020/06/08/brevard-county-fraternal-order-police-facebook-posts-draw-ire/5317923002/ |access-date=June 8, 2020 |work=[[Florida Today]] |date=June 8, 2020}}</ref>

In October 2020, the FOP posted a photo to Twitter and Facebook of a policewoman holding a toddler, claiming he had been found wandering the streets of Philadelphia amid the [[Killing of Walter Wallace#Protests and unrest|protests over the killing of Walter Wallace]]. The toddler had in fact been pulled from the back of a vehicle unrelated to the protests after the police had surrounded it and violently arrested his mother and another passenger without probable cause. The posts were later deleted.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shepherd|first=Katie|date=October 30, 2020|title=Police took a Black toddler from his family's SUV. Then, the union used his photo as 'propaganda,' attorneys say.|language=en-US|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/10/30/philadelphia-fop-posts-toddler/|access-date=2021-04-16|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

On April 15, 2021, the same day [[Chicago Police Department]] body camera footage of the [[Killing of Adam Toledo|Adam Toledo]] shooting was released, [[John Catanzara]], president of Lodge 7 Chicago of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the officer was justified in his actions. "He was 100% right," Catanzara said. "The offender still turned with a gun in his hand." This claim is heavily disputed as the video appears to show Toledo turning toward the officer and raising both hands with nothing in them when he was shot and killed.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Main|first=Frank|date=2021-04-15|title=Bodycam video of Adam Toledo shooting shows Chicago cop making split-second decision to shoot him|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2021/4/15/22383392/adam-toledo-shooting-video-released-chicago-police-bodycam|access-date=2021-04-15|website=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Fernando|first1=Christine|last2=Hauck|first2=Grace|date=2021-04-15|title='We failed Adam': Body camera videos show 13-year-old Adam Toledo put hands up before fatal police shooting in Chicago|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/04/15/adam-toledo-shooting-video-chicago-body-cam-video-released/7217787002/|access-date=2021-04-16|website=[[USA Today]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

On August 13, 2023, [[HBO]] released ''[[Telemarketers (TV series)|Telemarketers]]'', a 3-part limited documentary series exploring the controversial telemarketing and fundraising practices of various state and local lodges of The Fraternal Order of Police nationwide.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2023-08-18 |title=The Story Behind HBO's Telemarketers |url=https://time.com/6306418/telemarketers-hbo-true-story/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=telemarketers fraternal police - Google Search |url=https://www.google.com/search?q=telemarketers+fraternal+police&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDUxMzBqMGoxqAIAsAIA |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=www.google.com}}</ref> The series and investigation stars former heroin addict and legendary telemarketer Patrick J Pespas, and graffiti artist turned filmmaker Sam Lipman-Stern.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Fear |first=David |date=2023-08-13 |title=HBO's 'Telemarketers' Exposes a Billion-Dollar Scam the Cops Are in On |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/telemarketers-hbo-docuseries-scam-police-safdies-1234797078/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

On September 6, 2024, FOP officially [[List of Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign endorsements|endorsed Donald Trump]] for the [[2024 US Presidential Election]]. This endorsement was criticized as some people felt Trump was responsible for the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]] and was also [[Prosecution of Donald Trump in New York|found guilty of falsifying business records]]. More than 60 other police officials [[List of Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign endorsements|endorsed Harris]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Feinberg |first1=Andrew |title=More than 60 police officials endorse Harris as Trump prepares to speak to police union |url=https://www.aol.com/more-60-law-enforcement-officials-140946895.html |website=AOL.com |publisher=Independent |access-date=September 6, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kinnard |first1=Meg |last2=Barrow |first2=Bill |title=Trump accepts key endorsement from police union while celebrating sentencing delay on felony charges |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-police-crime-law-enforcement-de5662eb889fb5dd75a893e1871b3400 |website=Associated Press |access-date=September 6, 2024}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Organized labour}}
{{Portal|Organized labor}}
* ''[[Fraternal Order of Police v. City of Newark]]''
⚫
*[[Steve Young (police officer)|Steve Young Memorial Scholarship Program]]
* [[Peace Officers Memorial Day]]
⚫
* [[Steve Young (police officer)|Steve Young Memorial Scholarship Program]]
* [[Telemarketers (TV series)|Telemarketers Documentary Series on HBO]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://www.fop.net/ Grand Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police]
*[http://www.fop.net/ Grand Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police]
*[http://www.fed-fop.org/ Federal Officers Coalition of the Fraternal Order of Police]
*[http://www.scfop3.org/ Tri-County South Carolina Lodge #3, Fraternal Order of Police]
*[https://www.fop.net/CmsPage.aspx?id=34 Steve Young Law Enforcement Legislative Advocacy Center] (Legislative [[Lobbying|lobby]])


{{Authority control}}
⚫
[[Category:Trade unions in the United States]]
⚫
[[Category:Fraternal service organizations]]
⚫
[[Category:Law enforcement non-governmental organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Police unions]]


[[Category:1915 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
⚫
[[Category:Fraternal orders]]
⚫
[[Category:Law enforcement non-governmental organizations in the United States]]
[[Category:Trade unions established in 1915]]
[[Category:Trade unions established in 1915]]
⚫
[[Category:Police unions in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 17:40, 18 October 2024

Fraternal Order of Police
National Fraternal Order of Police
AbbreviationFOP
Founded1915 (1915)
HeadquartersNashville, Tennessee
Location
Members373,000 (2023)
Key people
Patrick Yoes (President)
Websitefop.net

The National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is a fraternal organization consisting of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. It reports a membership of over 355,000 members organized in 2,100 local chapters (lodges), state lodges, and the national Grand Lodge. The organization attempts to improve the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those they serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation.[1]

FOP subordinate lodges may be police unions and/or fraternal organizations, as the FOP has both Labor Lodges and Fraternal Lodges, and describes itself as a "full service member representation organization."[1] It lobbies Congress and regulatory agencies on behalf of law enforcement officers, provides labor representation, promotes legal defense for officers, and offers resources such as "legal research."

History

[edit]
Fort Pitt Lodge # 1, Pittsburgh

The Fraternal Order of Police was founded in 1915 by two Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, patrol officers, Martin Toole and Delbert Nagle.[2] They and 21 other members of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police met on May 14, 1915, establishing the first local of the Fraternal Order of Police, Fort Pitt Lodge #1.[3] The FOP official history states that the founders decided to not use the term "union" because of "the anti-union sentiment of the time," but nevertheless acted as a union, telling Pittsburgh mayor Joseph G. Armstrong that the FOP would "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."[3]

In 1918, it was decided that the Order should become a national organization. The Order's constitution stated that "Race, Creed or Color shall be no bar". The constitution also had a no strike pledge, but this has not been enforced since 1967 when FOP police in Youngstown, Ohio refused to work during a salary dispute. In 1974 and 1975 the FOP stated that it would take no action against members who violated the anti-strike clause until all efforts were exhausted on the local and state level.[4]

During the 1960s the FOP opposed the creation of police review boards, spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy, at one point describing them as a "sinister movement against law enforcement". The FOP also clashed with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on the issue of police brutality, seeing it as a "liberal attempt to discredit law enforcement". The Order was "heartened by Richard Nixon's emphasis on law and order", though it claimed to remain strictly apolitical.[5]

Emblem and motto

[edit]

The Fraternal Order of Police emblem is a five-pointed star. According to the FOP:

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, Fidus, Libertatum" which translated means "Law is a Safeguard of Freedom."[6]

When adopted, the motto was believed to be Latin and assumed to mean "Fairness, Justice, Equality" or "Justice, Friendship, Equality". Actually, the motto is a grammatically impossible and hardly translatable sequence of Latin words; the current interpretation is the best that could be made of it.[7]

In the center of the star is the coat of arms of Pittsburgh, itself based on William Pitt's own coat of arms.

Organization and membership

[edit]

The FOP constitution and bylaws provide that active membership is open to "any regularly appointed or elected and full-time employed law enforcement officer of the United States, any state or political subdivision thereof, or any agency may be eligible for membership" and that "each state and subordinate lodge shall be the judge of its membership." Local lodges often have provisions for retired law enforcement officers.[8] The subordinate lodges are supported by state lodges which are subordinate to the Grand Lodge.[9][10] The Grand Lodge is the national structure of the order.[11]

In 1978, the Order had 138,472 members, 1,250 lodges and 34 state structures.[11]

In the late 1970s, the Order's headquarters were located in Indianapolis, Indiana.[11] The national organization has three offices: the Labor Services Division in Columbus, Ohio, the Steve Young Law Enforcement Legislative Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Grand Lodge "Atnip-Orms Center" National Headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.[12]

Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary

[edit]

The Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary (FOPA) is the auxiliary organization of FOP for family members of FOP members. It was formed by a group of wives of Pittsburgh police officers in 1920, and Kathryn M. Milton became its first national president, in 1941 as the Fraternal Order of Police Ladies Auxiliary. It reports over 2,000 members in 140 Auxiliaries in 25 states. In 1985, males older than 18 were admitted for the first time; in 1987, the current name was adopted, dropping the term "Ladies."[13]

Fraternal Order of Police Associates

[edit]

The Fraternal Order of Police Associates (FOPA) is a civilian affiliate organization that is made up of FOP supporters not eligible for membership. Its members include friends and family of members, businesspeople, professionals, and other citizens. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.[14]

Political advocacy

[edit]

Passed legislation supported by FOP includes the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act, and HELPS Retirees Act. Pending legislation that FOP lobbies for include the Social Security Fairness Act, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007, and the State and Local Law Enforcement Officers' Discipline, Accountability and Due Process Act.

The FOP distributes questionnaires for candidates for U.S. president and Congress asking them about their views on issues relating to police officers.[15][16][17]

FOP has the following issue positions:

In 2008, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 53, Eddison Ricketts, wrote Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel that the union supported him.[29]

On September 16, 2016, the FOP endorsed Republican Party candidate Donald Trump for U.S. president.[30] This endorsement was opposed by Blacks in Law Enforcement of America for not reflecting the will of the membership.[31][32] It endorsed Trump again on September 4, 2020.[33]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FOP vehemently opposed vaccine requirements for police.[34] COVID-19 was the top killer of police officers in 2020 and 2021.[34]

On September 6, 2024, The FOP officially endorsed Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. This marks the third time the police union has backed Trump.[35]

Boycotts

[edit]

The National Fraternal Order of Police has called for boycotts of various individuals and organizations throughout its history. In August 1999, the Fraternal Order of Police called for a boycott against all individuals and organizations that support Mumia Abu-Jamal, a journalist who was convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer in 1981.[36] FOP also called for a boycott of the Beastie Boys and Rage Against the Machine for their support of Abu-Jamal.[37] In August 2007, FOP called for a boycott of eBay for selling police equipment.[38] In 2015, the Fraternal Order of Police called for a boycott of Quentin Tarantino's films following his comments against police brutality at a protest in New York. The boycott of Tarantino was joined by the Border Patrol, as well as police unions in California, Philadelphia, New York, and New Jersey.[39][40] After athletic company Nike aired an ad featuring former NFL player Colin Kaepernick in 2018, FOP condemned it and called it an insult. Fraternal Order of Police president Chuck Canterbury said Kaepernick's views were "uninformed and inflammatory" but declined to call for a boycott, saying that "in our experience, boycotts and similar exercises do not succeed and often serve only to enrich the company."[41] Aside from the national organization, many local police unions have separately called for boycotts.[42][43]

Data breach

[edit]

In January 2016, the site was hacked and files released to a dark web activist known as Cthulhu.[44][45]

Controversies

[edit]
Front door of a Providence spa with multiple police stickers

In 1991, the FOP was under scrutiny from the public in part because of the Rodney King incident.[2] Dewey Stokes, the FOP president at the time, contextualized the incident by saying, "You have to put things in proper perspective. [...] These are not common occurrences. They are the result of stress on the job, emphasis of the system on the criminal and not the victim, and the media's exploitation of the negatives of law enforcement."[2]

The human rights group Amnesty International has criticized the Fraternal Order of Police in Philadelphia for their vocal support of the death penalty in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal.[46]

Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has called the FOP a "fringe organization" for opposing his efforts to repeal the Tiahrt Amendment.[47]

On September 18, 2009, The Providence Journal reported the Fraternal Order of Police representing several Rhode Island police departments had solicited donations from city massage parlors or "spas". Watchdog groups have claimed that these massage parlors are fronts for prostitution.[48]

On August 27, 2017, as the FOP was holding its annual conference at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, protesters compared the FOP to the Ku Klux Klan by putting up banners on interstate overpasses, one of which read, "Grand Wizards to Grand Lodges. White Supremacy By Another Name".[49]

In June 2018, Fraternal Order of Police Tri-County Lodge #3 in South Carolina objected to the inclusion of award-winning novel The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, and All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely in a high school summer reading list, because of their depictions of violence by police officers.[50] The National Coalition Against Censorship offered the high school support, while prominent authors such as Hari Kunzru and Neil Gaiman pointed out the alarming nature of police officers trying to police what children read.

After the May 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis Police custody, the FOP said, in part: "...police officers should at all times render aid to those who need it... need to treat all of our citizens with respect and understanding and should be held to the very highest standards for their conduct..."[51][52] In June 2020, the Fraternal Order of Police's Brevard County, Florida chapter offered on Facebook to recruit police officers from forces involved in police brutality controversies from Buffalo, Atlanta, and Minneapolis. The Brevard County sheriff denounced the remarks.[53][54]

In October 2020, the FOP posted a photo to Twitter and Facebook of a policewoman holding a toddler, claiming he had been found wandering the streets of Philadelphia amid the protests over the killing of Walter Wallace. The toddler had in fact been pulled from the back of a vehicle unrelated to the protests after the police had surrounded it and violently arrested his mother and another passenger without probable cause. The posts were later deleted.[55]

On April 15, 2021, the same day Chicago Police Department body camera footage of the Adam Toledo shooting was released, John Catanzara, president of Lodge 7 Chicago of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the officer was justified in his actions. "He was 100% right," Catanzara said. "The offender still turned with a gun in his hand." This claim is heavily disputed as the video appears to show Toledo turning toward the officer and raising both hands with nothing in them when he was shot and killed.[56][57]

On August 13, 2023, HBO released Telemarketers, a 3-part limited documentary series exploring the controversial telemarketing and fundraising practices of various state and local lodges of The Fraternal Order of Police nationwide.[58][59] The series and investigation stars former heroin addict and legendary telemarketer Patrick J Pespas, and graffiti artist turned filmmaker Sam Lipman-Stern.[60]

On September 6, 2024, FOP officially endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 US Presidential Election. This endorsement was criticized as some people felt Trump was responsible for the January 6 United States Capitol attack and was also found guilty of falsifying business records. More than 60 other police officials endorsed Harris.[61][62]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Frequently Asked Questions Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine." Fraternal Order of Police. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Hasch, Mike (August 11, 1991). "Brutality, competence questions facing FOP as it convenes here". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 6. Retrieved December 28, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b "History Archived 2008-09-24 at the Wayback Machine." Fraternal Order of Police.
  4. ^ Schmidt, Alvin J. Fraternal Organizations Westport, CT; Greenwood Press pp.263-4
  5. ^ Schmidt p.264
  6. ^ "About the FOP Star Archived 2008-05-12 at the Wayback Machine." Fraternal Order of Police.
  7. ^ Justin E. Walsh, Ph.D. Fraternal Order of Police 1915—1976: A History. Turner Publishing Company, 2004, pp. 18–20. ISBN 978-1-56311-726-8.
  8. ^ "How to Join Archived 2008-06-03 at the Wayback Machine." Fraternal Order of Police.
  9. ^ "Florida State FOP". Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  10. ^ Reed, Matt (April 7, 2011). "GOP should tread lightly". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1B. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c Schmidt p.265
  12. ^ "Contact Us Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine." Fraternal Order of Police.
  13. ^ "Auxiliary Archived 2008-06-12 at the Wayback Machine." Fraternal Order of Police.
  14. ^ "Fraternal Order of Police Associates Archived 2008-05-13 at the Wayback Machine." Fraternal Order of Police.
  15. ^ "Congressional Candidate Questionnaire: Model Questionnaire for use by State and Local Lodges Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine." Fraternal Order of Police.
  16. ^ "Fraternal Order of Police Presidential Questionnaire: John McCain Response Archived 2008-09-11 at the Wayback Machine." Fraternal Order of Police.
  17. ^ "Fraternal Order of Police Presidential Questionnaire: Barack Obama Response Archived 2008-09-11 at the Wayback Machine." Fraternal Order of Police.
  18. ^ "Social Security Issues Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine." Fraternal Order of Police.
  19. ^ "H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act of 2007 Archived 2008-10-12 at the Wayback Machine." GovTrack.
  20. ^ "H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act of 2007 Archived 2008-10-09 at the Wayback Machine." GovTrack.
  21. ^ "H.R. 980: Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 Archived 2008-09-01 at the Wayback Machine." GovTrack.
  22. ^ "H.R. 688: State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2007 Archived 2008-08-29 at the Wayback Machine." GovTrack.
  23. ^ "S. 449: State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2007 Archived 2008-10-12 at the Wayback Machine." GovTrack.
  24. ^ "H.R. 1073: Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act Archived 2008-08-31 at the Wayback Machine." GovTrack.
  25. ^ "S. 1354: Law Enforcement Officers Retirement Equity Act Archived 2008-08-31 at the Wayback Machine." GovTrack.
  26. ^ "Police union wants protection under hate crime law". Politico. January 5, 2015. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  27. ^ "Police want violence against officers to be hate crime". The News Star. February 28, 2015. Archived from the original on January 11, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  28. ^ "Enough Is Enough: FOP President Calls on Congress to Expand Hate Crimes Law to Protect Police". FOP. January 5, 2015. Archived from the original on July 6, 2015.
  29. ^ Sanchez, Luis (April 22, 2018). "Law enforcement group supports Broward Co. sheriff amid call for no-confidence vote". The Hill.
  30. ^ "Fraternal Order of Police Endorses Trump" (PDF). Fraternal Order of Police. September 16, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 8, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  31. ^ Siemaszko, Corky (September 22, 2016). "Black cops at odds with police union over Trump endorsement". NBC News. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  32. ^ Love, David (September 7, 2017). "Does the Fraternal Order of Police Have A Black People Problem?". Atlanta Black Star. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  33. ^ Singman, Brooke (September 4, 2020). "Fraternal Order of Police endorses Trump in 2020 race". Fox News.
  34. ^ a b "As some police fight vaccine rules, DeSantis says Florida will pay them $5,000 to relocate: 'We'll treat you better'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  35. ^ "Trump accepts key endorsement from police union while celebrating sentencing delay on felony charges". Associated Press News.
  36. ^ "FOP attacks supporters of convicted cop killer" (Press release). Fraternal Order of Police. August 11, 1999. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2008.
  37. ^ Hiatt, Brian (August 19, 1999). "Cop Group Boycotts Rage Against The Machine, Beastie Boys Over Mumia Abu-Jamal". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 11, 2016.
  38. ^ "FOP amicus brief for Janus v. AFSCME" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  39. ^ Lawler, Kelly (November 5, 2015). "Quentin Tarantino was 'surprised' by backlash to police brutality remarks". USA Today.
  40. ^ Parker, Ryan; McClintock, Pamela (November 5, 2015). "Largest Police Union Cautions Quentin Tarantino: We've Got a Surprise Coming for You". The Hollywood Reporter.
  41. ^ Hindi, Saja (September 7, 2018). "Fraternal Order of Police denounces Nike advertisement but opts out of official boycott". Coloradoan.
  42. ^ Skolnik, Jes (February 25, 2016). "A History of Police Boycotting Musicians in America". Pitchfork.
  43. ^ "Miami Fraternal Order of Police Plan to Boycott Beyoncé Concert". NBC 6 South Florida. February 19, 2016.
  44. ^ Cox, Joseph (January 29, 2016). "US Police Organisation Hacked, Documents Posted Online". Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  45. ^ Joseph, George (January 29, 2016). "Hackers post private files of America's biggest police union". Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  46. ^ "USA: A life in the balance - the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal | Amnesty International". Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  47. ^ David Seifman (May 10, 2007). "N.Y. Triggers Gun Stings Nationwide". New York Post. Archived from the original on June 15, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  48. ^ Arditi, Lynn (September 18, 2009). "R.I. police charities solicit donations from 'spas'". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on September 22, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2009.
  49. ^ Allison, Natalie (August 28, 2017). "Protesters block Broadway, cover Confederate statue in Nashville". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 2, 2017. One banner read 'Grand Wizards to Grand Lodges,' the former reference to a Ku Klux Klan leadership position and the latter to the 'lodge' regional grouping structure of the FOP. The phrase was followed by 'White Supremacy By Another Name,' and a drawing of a police badge bearing 'FOP.'
  50. ^ Flood, Alison (July 3, 2018). "South Carolina police object to high-school reading list". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  51. ^ "Police, law enforcement experts condemn knee restraint used on George Floyd". FOX6Now.com. May 29, 2020. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  52. ^ Haas, Kevin. "Protests in city, nation after George Floyd's death". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  53. ^ Lee, Alicia (June 8, 2020). "Florida police organization offers to hire cops who were fired or resigned over police misconduct". CNN. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  54. ^ Sassoon, Alessandro; Gallop, J. D. (June 8, 2020). "Brevard County Fraternal Order of Police: disciplined and jailed cops should apply here". Florida Today. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  55. ^ Shepherd, Katie (October 30, 2020). "Police took a Black toddler from his family's SUV. Then, the union used his photo as 'propaganda,' attorneys say". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  56. ^ Main, Frank (April 15, 2021). "Bodycam video of Adam Toledo shooting shows Chicago cop making split-second decision to shoot him". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  57. ^ Fernando, Christine; Hauck, Grace (April 15, 2021). "'We failed Adam': Body camera videos show 13-year-old Adam Toledo put hands up before fatal police shooting in Chicago". USA Today. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  58. ^ "The Story Behind HBO's Telemarketers". TIME. August 18, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  59. ^ "telemarketers fraternal police - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  60. ^ Fear, David (August 13, 2023). "HBO's 'Telemarketers' Exposes a Billion-Dollar Scam the Cops Are in On". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  61. ^ Feinberg, Andrew. "More than 60 police officials endorse Harris as Trump prepares to speak to police union". AOL.com. Independent. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  62. ^ Kinnard, Meg; Barrow, Bill. "Trump accepts key endorsement from police union while celebrating sentencing delay on felony charges". Associated Press. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to National Fraternal Order of Police.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=National_Fraternal_Order_of_Police&oldid=1251893525"