National Fraternal Order of Police: Difference between revisions
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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>[http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engAMR510012000]</ref> |
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>[http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engAMR510012000]</ref> |
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[[New York City]] Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] has called the FOP a "fringe organization" for opposing his efforts to repeal the [[ |
[[New York City]] Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] has called the FOP a "fringe organization" for opposing his efforts to repeal the [[Todd Tiahrt#Tiahrt Amendment|Tiahrt Amendment]].<ref>{{citeweb|title=N.Y. Triggers Gun Stings Nationwide|publisher=The 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}}</ref> |
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[[File:spadoor.jpg|left|thumb|Front Door of a Providence Spa with multiple Police Stickers]] |
[[File:spadoor.jpg|left|thumb|Front Door of a Providence Spa with multiple Police Stickers]] |
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Revision as of 11:13, 24 February 2011
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is an organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. It claims a membership of over 325,000 members organized in 2100 local chapters (lodges), organized into local lodges, state lodges, and the national Grand Lodge. The FOP calls itself "the voice of our nation's law enforcement officers."[1]
The FOP has some characteristics of a trade union, although it is not described as such and labels itself 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. 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.
The national organization has three offices: the Labor Services Division in Columbus, Ohio, and the Steve Young Law Enforcement Legislative Advocacy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Atnip-Orms Center National Headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee,[2]
History
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.[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 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."[3]
Emblem and motto
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."[4]
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.[5]
In the center of the star is the coat of arms of the city of Pittsburgh.
Membership
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 lodge often have provision for retired law enforcement officers.[6]
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 now claims 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."[7]
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, businesspeople, professionals, and other citizens. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.[8]
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.
The FOP distributes questionnaires for candidates for president and Congress asking them about their views on issues relating to police officers.[9][10][11]
FOP has the following issue positions:
- Supports the Social Security Fairness Act,[12] which would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) in current law.[13][14]
- Supports the recommendations of the President's Commission To Strengthen Social Security to 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 firefighters, and supports the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007.[15]
- 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.[16][17]
- 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 Customs and Immigration Inspectors.[18][19]
- Supports the REAL ID Act.
Controversy
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.[20]
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has called the FOP a "fringe organization" for opposing his efforts to repeal the Tiahrt Amendment.[21]
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.[22]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Frequently Asked Questions." Fraternal Order of Police.
- ^ "Contact Us." Fraternal Order of Police.
- ^ a b "History." Fraternal Order of Police.
- ^ "About the FOP Star." Fraternal Order of Police.
- ^ Justin E. Walsh, Ph.D. Fraternal Order of Police 1915—1976: A History. Turner Publishing Company, 2004, pp. 18–20. ISBN 9781563117268.
- ^ "How to Join." Fraternal Order of Police.
- ^ "Auxiliary." Fraternal Order of Police.
- ^ "Fraternal Order of Police Associates." Fraternal Order of Police.
- ^ "Congressional Candidate Questionnaire: Model Questionnaire for use by State and Local Lodges." Fraternal Order of Police.
- ^ "Fraternal Order of Police Presidential Questionnaire: John McCain Response." Fraternal Order of Police.
- ^ "Fraternal Order of Police Presidential Questionnaire: Barack Obama Response." Fraternal Order of Police.
- ^ "Social Security Issues." Fraternal Order of Police.
- ^ "H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act of 2007." GovTrack.
- ^ "H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act of 2007." GovTrack.
- ^ "H.R. 980: Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007." GovTrack.
- ^ "H.R. 688: State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2007." GovTrack.
- ^ "S. 449: State and Local Law Enforcement Discipline, Accountability, and Due Process Act of 2007." GovTrack.
- ^ "H.R. 1073: Law Enforcement Officers Equity Act." GovTrack.
- ^ "S. 1354: Law Enforcement Officers Retirement Equity Act." GovTrack.
- ^ [1]
- ^ David Seifman (May 10, 2007). "N.Y. Triggers Gun Stings Nationwide". The New York Post.
- ^ Arditi, Lynn (2009-09-18). "R.I. police charities solicit donations from "spas"". Providence Journal. Retrieved 2009-09-21.