Welcome Message

The local voice of Weber and Morgan County’s Law Enforcement

“No one knows the dangers and the difficulties faced by today’s police officers better than another officer, and no one knows police officers better than the FOP.”

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is the world’s largest organization of law enforcement officers, representing over 330,000 police officers. We are the voice of those who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities. We are committed to improving the safety, security, and overall working conditions of law enforcement officers and their loved ones primarily through three means: Legal, Support, and Legislative.

The Weber Lodge (Utah’s 1st) represents over 140 police and corrections officers. We currently represent 9 agencies in Weber and Morgan Counties. We also serve members from other agencies choosing to be a part of our lodge. We are an organization of cops representing cops. Period.

Who We Are

We are not a traditional labor union, we are an organization of cops, from the top down. We are not beholden to any political party or outside organization. We often stand alone, on behalf of issues that are critical to the profession, because the position is the right thing to do. While we will try and work with other organizations on important legislation, we do not back down when it comes to protecting our officers. For example, we do not support AFL-CIO organizations that fight us in making an assault on police officers a felony offense. We put every effort into protecting cops and making our jobs safer. We don’t represent non-law enforcement, so everything we do has the interests of the profession at heart. No other national affiliated organization in Utah can make that claim.

We are a 501(c)(8) non-profit corporation. This means that our members run the organization, and are able to examine our books at any time, for any reason. We operate off transparency to our members.

Mission Statement

We, the law enforcement officers of the State of Utah, Northern Utah area, and political subdivisions thereof, as representatives and delegates of state and subordinate lodges, do hereby associate the lodge we represent and the members thereof for the following purpose:

To support and defend the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Utah; to inculcate loyalty and allegiance to the United States of America, the State of Utah, and the communities we work for; to promote and foster the enforcement of law and order; to improve the individual and collective proficiency of our members in the performance of their duties; to encourage fraternal, educational, charitable, and social activities among law enforcement officers; to advocate and strive for the uniform application of civil service merit system for appointment and promotion; to support the improvement of the standard of living and working conditions of the law enforcement profession through every legal and ethical means available; to create and maintain traditional esprit de corps insuring fidelity to duty under all conditions and circumstances; to cultivate a spirit of fraternalism and mutual helpfulness among our members and the people we serve; to increase the efficiency of the law enforcement profession and thus more firmly establish the confidence of the public in the service dedicated to the protection of life and property.

All terms used herein to denominate gender shall be generic and, whenever appropriate, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.

History of the FOP

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 1917, the idea of a National Organization of police officers came about. Today, the tradition that was first envisioned over 99 years ago lives on with more than 2,200 local lodges and more than 330,000 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)?

The Fraternal Order of Police is the world’s largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 330,000 members in more than 2,200 lodges. We are the voice of those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities. We are committed to improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation. No one knows the dangers and the difficulties faced by today’s police officers better than another officer, and no one knows police officers better than the FOP.

What is the FOP’s Mission?

Mission Statement

We, the law enforcement officers of the United States and of the several states and political subdivisions thereof, as representatives and delegates of state and subordinate lodges, do hereby associate the several lodges we represent and the members thereof for the following purposes:

To support and defend the Constitution of the United States; to inculcate loyalty and allegiance to the United States of America; to promote and foster the enforcement of law and order; to improve the individual and collective proficiency of our members in the performance of their duties; to encourage fraternal, educational, charitable and social activities among law enforcement officers; to advocate and strive for uniform application of the civil service merit system for appointment and promotion; to support the improvement of the standard of living and working conditions of the law enforcement profession through every legal and ethical means available; to create and maintain tradition of esprit de corps insuring fidelity to duty under all conditions and circumstances; to cultivate a spirit of fraternalism and mutual helpfulness among our members and the people we serve; to increase the efficiency of the law enforcement profession and thus more firmly to establish the confidence of the public in the service dedicated to the protection of life and property.

Am I eligible to join the FOP?

A. If you are a regularly appointed or elected and full-time employed law enforcement officer of the United States, any state or political subdivision thereof, or any agency, then you can become a member of the Fraternal Order of Police. If you are a family member of a Fraternal Order of Police member you may join the FOP Auxiliary. If you are a supporter of Law Enforcement you may join the FOP Associates. Please contact your local Fraternal Order of Police lodge who will assist you through the membership process.

Meaning of the FOP Star

The emblem adopted by the National Fraternal Order of Police is designed to remind the membership of the duties that are expected of them as a citizen, a police officer and a member of the lodge. 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 the safeguard of freedom.”

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