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 90 years ago lives on with 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 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.

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 a Safeguard of Freedom".

Since its inception, the Fraternal Order of Police has continued its commitment to Law Enforcement and their families.  The FOP has been and will continue to be committed to the representation and preservation of "Due Process Rights" for all law enforcement officers as well as the betterment of their pay and benefit packages and terms and conditions of employment.

"The tide has definitely shifted with the FOP.  Where once, we were known for being mostly fraternal, especially in the west and southern portions of the United States we have now moved into the labor arena with full force". National 2nd Vice President Frank Gale stated in a recent interview.

The Colorado Fraternal Order of Police has followed suit and in some cases taken the lead.  Colorado now has numerous Collective Bargaining Units represented by the FOP and is currently involved in a legislative effort to increase the awareness about the benefits of collective bargaining for public safety employees, specifically for law enforcement. The ultimate goal of the Colorado State Lodge is to represent all FOP law enforcement bargaining units for pay, benefits and tr"ms and conditions of employment.  With the development of the Labor Council, its staff of labor attorneys and the expertise and applied knowledge of its Director, we are poised to make significant progress in that regard in the years ahead.

The Colorado State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police employs professional lobbyists who are extremely knowledeable on the issues and needs of Colorado's law enforcement officers.  They have been given specific direction in the pursuance of Colorado law enforcement's right to collectively bargain, a Peace Officers' Bill of Rights, and in gaining other state-wide rights and benefits for our members and our profession.  Furthermore, with state-wide legislation allowing collective bargaining, and a Bill of Rights guarenteeing due process, we can ensure that all Colorado law enforcement personnel have a seat at the table with their management and/or city or county commissioners and that their rights are protected with due process.

The Colorado State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police represents over 5000 law enforcement officers in 44 Lodges, and we are the largest law enforcement Union in the state.