Fraternal Order of Police
The National FOP Grand Lodge's account on its origin
"In 1915, the life of a policeman was bleak. In many communities [including in Dayton, Ohio] they were forced to work 12 hour days, 365 days a year. Police officers didn't like it, but there... were no organizations to make their voices heard.... Two Pittsburgh patrol officers, Martin Toole and Delbert Nagle knew they must... organize police officers... 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.... In 1917, the idea of a National Organization of Police Officers came about. Today... [there are] more than 2,100 local lodges and more than 325,000 members in the United States. The Fraternal Order of Police has become the largest professional police organization in the country."
The State of Ohio Fraternal Order of Police is formed
The organizing of police officers gained a foothold in a few Pennsylvania cities (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Erie) but the grassroots movement saw its greatest growth westward from Pittsburgh into northeast Ohio. Among its earliest-chartered lodges where those by 1920 in Steubenville, Canton, Akron and Youngstown. In 1924, the city of Steubenville attempted to form the first "state lodge" but it was too early and effort for the fledgling national organization to accept; however, as more and more local lodges formed in Ohio, West Virginia and Indiana (as well as in Michigan and Illinois), the National FOP adopted the concept of state lodges. The FOP of Ohio was chartered in 1934. Within 20 years, Ohio had become the state with the largest number of local lodges, greater than even the state of Pennsylvania.where the FOP began. Today, the FOP of Ohio has over 26,000 members and close to 200 local lodges.
Currently, Derric McDonald, the Vice President of Dayton Lodge No. 44, is the State FOP of Ohio 2nd Vice President. Virgil F. McDaniel served as the State FOP President, was a member of the State Executive Board for over 30 years and remains active at the state level as a Past State President.
Dayton FOP Capt. John C. Post Lodge No. 44
The grassroots movement of organizing FOP lodges in Ohio continued west across the northern part of the state. It then spread southward and further west during the 1930s. Many of the new lodges were in small cities and towns but it was a coup when the National FOP brought in a major metropolitan police force. Near the decade's end, it was able to announce at its National Conference that it had added two more large cities into its organization: Dayton, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana.
On March 2, 1938, Dayton FOP Capt. John C. Post Lodge was established. The Dayton FOP Lodge was the 44th local lodge formed in the State of Ohio and the nation's 111th local lodge. Considering there are now 2,100 local FOP lodges nationwide, the Dayton FOP is a pioneer in the proud history of the Fraternal Order of Police.
So quick was Dayton to show leadership that in 1938 - the year it was chartered - Dayton was one of four cities considered for the site of the 22nd National FOP Convention. Although it was not selected, Dayton was successful the following year in the vote to host Ohio's State FOP Convention. These annual state conferences have been held in Dayton no fewer than eight times, the first being 1940 (Ohio's 6th State Conference). The other state conventions were: 1947 (13th State Conference), 1964 (30th State Conference), 1978 (44th State Conference), 1985 (51st State Conference); 1991 (57th State Conference), 1996 (62nd State Conference) and 2006 (72nd State Conference).
Dayton Fraternal Order of Police Associates Lodge No. 1
Dayton was the first in the nation to have an “Associates” organization. Originally named the “Fraternal Associates” of Dayton FOP Lodge No. 44, it was an organization comprised of area businessmen. These men supported the efforts of its police officers to organize and better themselves.
The Fraternal Associates held its first meeting on May 23, 1940. It's charter was adopted by the State FOP of Ohio in July 1941, officially making it the Nation's 1st FOPA. It's charter was adopted a full year before the State of Ohio FOPA was officially formed and another 10 years ahead of the resolution at the national convention to charter a National FOPA. That resolution was brought to the floor of the National FOP Convention by Dayton President Kenneth Caplinger and Pennsylvania State Lodge Sectretary John Coleman.
Dayton Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary No. 11
Dayton also had one of the State of Ohio's earliest FOP Auxiliary organizations. The first meeting of the Dayton “Ladies Auxiliary” was held in August 1941. It's charter as Auxiliary No. 11 was certified on April 9, 1942 and adopted by the State Lodge of Ohio in July 1943.
Linda Hennie, a long-standing member of Dayton FOP Auxiliary No. 11, is the current National President of the Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary after being elected in August 2011. Linda is also the National Co-chairperson of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Service representing the FOP Auxiliary. Every year, Linda coordinates the survivors' tribute to their lost loved ones - our fallen officers - as the final roll is read during the National LEO Memorial Service in Washington D.C.
Dayton FOP Lodge
No. 44
Local Area FOP Lodges