The National Fraternal Order of Police represents a proud tradition of law enforcement officers standing together to protect, advocate for, and support one another. The FOP is the largest professional police organization in the country. After more than 90 years of service, the FOP has grown to include more than 2,100 local lodges and serves over 325,000 members.
A Legacy of Service and Advocacy
The FOP first began in 1915 when Officers Martin Toole and Delbert Nagle of the Pittsburgh Police Department began to fight for a change. These two pioneer officers and their fellow officers formed the first lodge, Fort Pitt Lodge #1. The two founding fathers were successful in making a better life for themselves and their fellow officers.
Today, the goal of the FOP has stayed the same. The FOP continues to grow and has become the most influential voice among law enforcement officers from coast to coast. FOP representatives are active in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress.
The members of the executive boards for each State Lodge and the National Lodge are all law enforcement officers. This structure reinforces the FOP’s core mission: cops protecting cops.