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Hobart #121 History
The Fratenal Order of Police ia an organization for Policemen, managed by
Policemen actively engaged in Police Work for State, County, City, Town or
Municipality.
On the Thirty First day of March, 1954 a charter was granted by the Grand
Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, Incorporated at Pittsburgh, PN.,
May 14, 1915, and under that charter Hobart Lodge #121, Fraternal Order of
Police, was on March 31, 1954 constituted a subordinate Lodge with full
power to work under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge in Hobart Township,
and the City of Hobart in the State of Indiana.
There are twenty names on the original charter.
| Joseph Aloia |
|
Walter Keller |
| Harold Baty |
|
Steve Knopic |
| James Blackwell |
|
Kenneth Kramer |
| James Daniels |
|
Roland Lovelace |
| Andrew Erwin |
|
Richard Raiza |
| Frank Helin |
|
Rodney Rantin |
| Bernard Tavor |
|
Fred Rose Jr. |
| Richard Harrigan |
|
Harold Shannon |
| Paul Hensley |
|
William Sohn |
| John Hinkel |
|
Paul Wolek |
Grand Lodge History - Back to Top
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 90 years ago lives on with more than 2,100 local
lodges and more than 310,000 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 and levels of government.
- Coutesy of the Grand F.O.P. Lodge Web Site
F.O.P. Star Story - Back to Top
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 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 support.
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.”
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