We thank you for your interest in the Fraternal
Order of Police Longmont Lodge 6. Any full-time, sworn law enforcement officer
with arrest power who is employed by a government entity may become a member
of the Fraternal Order of Police.
We are the oldest and largest Professional
Police Labor Organization in the world. Our membership is made up exclusively
of active and retired police officers. We are an organization run BY cops FOR
cops! The Fraternal Order of Police was started in 1908 by two Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania police officers, Delbert Nagle and Martin Toole. The Fraternal
Order of Police has grown from its original 23 officers in Pittsburgh, to more
than 345,000 members in all 50 states. The FOP has 45 state lodges and more
than 2,200 local lodges. The FOP is by far the largest police organization in
the United States. We also have affiliate lodges in Canada, Ireland, Turkey
and Germany.
Our membership numbers are growing locally and across the country.
Nevertheless, over the last year or so, we have often heard the question, "Why
should I join the Fraternal Order of Police?" The first place to start
to answer that question would be to discuss the environment in which law
enforcement members find themselves. The intense scrutiny under which you must
perform an extremely difficult job has made you the targets of the media,
politicians, and special interest groups. This makes you a target of
opportunity and exploitation. Without the benefit of an organized group like
the FOP you are out there on your own. Every day you are exposed to risk of
civil suit or administrative action that could cost you your job and ruin you
financially. If for no other reason, the legal protection you receive as
a benefit of membership should convince the sworn Law Enforcement employee to
join. We have the best legal defense plan available for law enforcement
officers, and the best and most experienced attorneys available for your
defense.
The brotherhood we share being FOP members, bar none, is
the greatest reason why we should all join together and become members of the
greatest Police Labor Organization in the world. You have to be in Law
Enforcement to be a member and to run this organization. The key to the
FOP's success is its flexibility and its structure as a democratically
governed labor organization. Every member has an equal voice and the
opportunity to determine the course and direction of the Fraternal Order of
Police as a whole.
We are not polluted like most the other labor organizations
with non-law enforcement personnel running the show. Who knows better the
issues and challenges we face better than the officers who have patrolled the
beat and served our communities. If we don’t take care of our own, no one
else will. Take a look at what the FOP has done around this country and in
each state they represent a majority of its officers. Take a look at what has
been accomplished for the betterment of law enforcement and the communities
they serve. You will have to agree, this law enforcement labor organization
is the best of the best.
Just take a look at our FOP emblem. It explains who and what
we are. The emblem adopted by the National Fraternal Order of Police is
designed to remind its members of the duties that are expected of them as a
citizen, a police officer and a member of their lodge. The five-cornered star
serves 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 that the people we serve
bestow upon us. They place their confidence and trust in us; and we serve them
proudly.
Midway between the points and center of the star is a blue
field representative of the thin blue line protecting those that 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, Fides, Libertatum"
which translated means, "Law is a Safeguard of Freedom."
We, the Fraternal Order of Police are fighting
hard to make life better for all law enforcement in Longmont and across this
country. We are not paid employees, just individuals dedicated to a cause
that needs our attention. There are other law enforcement organizations
in the state and around the country; but none represent our profession better than
the FOP. Our motives are different, Cops for Cops. If we don’t take care of
our own, no one else will.
Believe us when we say, the FOP needs you.
Without the support from our brothers & sisters in law enforcement, the FOP
would truly diminish. Be a leader and make the right choice, the FOP is
logically the only law enforcement labor organization one should join. We are
the voice of law enforcement in Longmont and across this great nation.
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F.A.Q.'s
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1. Why should I join the Fraternal Order of
Police?
There are many reasons, but we believe the most important reason is the
solidarity of our police brotherhood and sisterhood. The FOP’s job is to
represent you and your fellow members in the law enforcement community. When
you join the Colorado FOP you have a solid team of labor professionals working
full time on your side. As a member you benefit through local, state and
national representation on labor and workplace issues. You have the best legal
defense fund available. The FOP has a strong and effective legislative
program at both the state and national levels. We are politically involved in
Longmont with the goal of improving your working conditions. This political
involvement extends across the state and to the nation’s capital. We will
support you if something bad happens in your life or on the job. Like our
motto says, "cops helping cops". When you join, you are joining the strongest
and best police organization in this country, with over 345,000 members and
2,200 lodges in all 50 states.
2. Does the Fraternal Order of Police have a
Legal Defense Plan?
The Colorado FOP offers a legal defense plan that is the
best available bar none. It is a self funded program with back-up to cover catastrophic cases. With the law firms of Bruno,
Colin, Jewell & Lowe, P.C, and Hamilton & Faatz; the FOP has under contract
Colorado’s top two law firms in the specialized area of law of defending law
enforcement officers. These two firms have a successful proven track record
and are certainly in the forefront of any officer’s mind when it comes to
these matters. There is no law firm or attorney in Colorado that can match
their expertise or experience in this specialized area of law.
3. Is the FOP affiliated with any Labor Unions
such as AFL/CIO?
No, the Fraternal Order of Police is an
independent labor union and has no affiliations with other unions. Many labor
organizations such as the AFL-CIO or Teamsters count numerous different
professions within their ranks, which waters down the voice of the individual
professions. They have proven time and time again they are incapable of
adequately representing the law enforcement profession or its members. Our
profession is unique and we firmly believe that only law enforcement officers
should represent law enforcement officers and their interests. The Fraternal
Order of Police is the largest law enforcement labor organization in the
country. First and foremost we are a full service labor organization working
solely for the benefit of its law enforcement members.
4. What services does the Fraternal Order of
Police provide?
The Fraternal Order of Police is a full service
member representation organization. The membership of each local lodge
determines the local services that are provided by his/her local lodge. The
members of each State Lodge determine what services are provided by the State
Lodge. The National Fraternal Order of Police provides a wide variety of
services to all members, but most importantly legislative and labor.
5. Does the Fraternal Order of Police solicit
donations via the telephone?
The Fraternal Order of Police Longmont Lodge 6
does not conduct telephone solicitations. However, some State and local FOP
lodges do. If you have a question about a solicitation telephone call you
received requesting that you make a donation to the FOP, please contact
Colorado FOP State Lodge.
Join Now !!
