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 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 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."
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 82 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.
ANGELS ARE WATCHING OVER THIS WORK 
To ALL My Fellow Brother's And Sister's In Law Enforcement:
PLEASE WEAR YOUR VEST !!!
