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History of the Fraternal Order of Police The Fraternal Order of Police is an 92-year-old organization that has a long and colorful history. The first MN lodge was chartered in 1991, and the Minnesota State Lodge was founded in 1993. Minnesota currently has approximately 2000 members in 21 lodges throughout the state. While the FOP is a national organization, each state has autonomy and controls its own activities and finances. The FOP was founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in November of 1915. Since that time it has expanded to 49 states with over 2700 lodges. The total membership is just over 324,000. The organization is much like other fraternal groups such as the Masons and the Elks, only it's exclusively for law enforcement officers. The basic - and most important - unit is the local lodge. Any group of 10 licensed law enforcement officers can charter a lodge. Each lodge meets on a regular basis (usually monthly) and sets its own agenda and calendar. It elects its own officers, and, in turn, sends representatives to the State Lodge. The State Lodge, in turn, provides representation to the Grand (or National) Lodge, and also sends delegates to the biennial national conference - the next one is scheduled for Louisville, KY in August of 2007. By utilizing this system, the FOP is truly a grass roots organization - it is run by and for the membership. About The Star |