BLUE LINE - Illinois Fraternal Order of

BLUE LINE
News from the
Illinois Fraternal Order of Police
Winter 2013
From the Desk of Ted Street, President, Illinois
Fraternal Order of Police............................... 2
Updates from the State House...................... 3
Important Update from James R. Ridge,
Attorney at Law............................................. 4
A Message from National Trustee Rocky
Nowaczyk . .................................................. 5
State Lodge Accepting New and Renewing
Associate Members .................................... 5
Local Lodges Make the Holidays Brighter for
Community Children and Families................. 6
Policies and Procedures Govern Sale and Use
of FOP “Marks” and Merchandise .................7
About the Illinois FOP.................................... 8
State Lodge to Celebrate 50 Years
By Rebecca Phillips, Director of Communications & Member Relations
O
n April 5, 2013, the Illinois State Lodge will celebrate its 50th
anniversary.
Chartered in 1963, the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police has grown
to become the second largest State Lodge in the nation, proudly
representing nearly 35,000 active duty and retired police officers – more
than 10 percent of all FOP member nationwide.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, please join us on Friday, April 5,
2013 at the Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace for an evening of hospitality,
dinner, entertainment and awards. The celebration will begin with
hospitality at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. Black tie
optional.
Music will be provided by Chicago’s acclaimed Matt Stedman Band. We
continue to finalize details regarding speakers and award recipients, but
assure you a worthwhile evening of fine dining, reflection, tribute and
celebration. Tickets are $60 per person.
Lodging is available at the Hilton Suites Chicago/Oakbrook Terrace or
the Hilton Garden Inn. Both hotels are attached to the Drury Lane and
offer a group rate for attendees.
• For reservations at the Hilton Suites, please call (800) 445-8667
and request the “FOP 50th Anniversary Party” room block to
secure the rate of $95 per night.
• For reservations at the Hilton Garden Inn, please call (877) 7829444 and request the “FOP 50th Anniversary Party” room block
to secure the rate of $80 per night.
www.ilfop.org
For additional information and reservations, please visit www.ilfop.org
or call (217) 726-8880. Reservations accepted until March 22, 2013.
From the Desk of President Ted Street
Illinois State Lodge
W
Executive Board
President: Ted J. Street, Sangamon County
First Vice-President: Kevin Graham, Chicago
Second Vice-President:
Third Vice-President: Kevin Farrell, Cook County Sheriff’s Office
Secretary: Chris Southwood, Illinois State Police
Financial Secretary: Dennis Kazarian, Elmhurst
Sergeant-at-Arms: Jeff Newberg, Calumet City
Chairman of Trustees: Mark Krampf, Belleville, (Ret.)
Immediate Past President: Mark Donahue,
Chicago (Ret.)
National Trustee: Robert “Rocky” Nowaczyk,
Illinois State Police (Ret.)
Executive Board Chairman, FOP Labor Council:
Tim Kobler, Buffalo Grove
State Chaplain: Reverend Dan Lovin
District Trustees
District 1: Darrin Bourret, Chicago
District 2: Steven Bundy, Illinois State Police
District 3: Greg Johnson, Illinois Department of
Corrections
District 4: Jason Moran, Cook County Sheriff’s
Office
District 5: Manuel Ruiz, Oak Park
District 6: Casey Klingberg, Elk Grove Village (Ret.)
District 7: Victor Almaguer, Elmhurst
District 8: Michael Bennett, Hodgkins
District 9: Jeff McBrayer, Calumet City
District 10: Michael Donnenwirth, Waukegan (Ret.)
District 11: John Albrecht, Joliet (Ret.)
District 12: Jamie Brown, East Moline
District 13: Doug Thompson, Jacksonville
District 14: Mark Krampf, Belleville (Ret.)
District 15: Michael Vladetich, Mt. Vernon (Ret.)
District 16: David Parsons, University of Illinois
District 17: John Dunning, Southern Illinois University (Ret.)
District 18: Terry Trueblood, Secretary of State
Police (Ret.)
Past Presidents
Gerald J. Gorski, Illinois State Police (Ret.)
James Lis, Chicago (Ret.)
e Are One Illinois is an
unprecedented labor coalition
working on behalf of over one
million statewide members to protect
public employee pensions. A list of
coalition members is available on the
group’s website at www.weareoneillinois.
org.
adequate pension
payments. Worse, in
certain years, the state
completely skipped
paying. Public workers
are not to blame. They faithfully paid into
their respective pension systems every
payday.
The coalition achieved fending off sham
pension “reform” legislation during
the Illinois General Assembly’s January
2013 lame-duck session. To accomplish
this, We Are One Illinois utilized several
tactics:
• Wrote, released and promoted studies
on the legislature’s proposed benefit
cuts and the coalition’s framework
recommendations, garnering coverage
from all major media.
• Produced a video featuring rank-andfile members and promoted it via
social media.
• Held a two-day lobby-day/rally,
attended by well over 3,000
supporters.
• Connected 30,000 phone calls to
lawmakers over a three-day robocall/
patch-thru campaign.
• Testified before the Illinois House of
Representatives.
• Used its lobbying teams to work
targeted legislators toward opposing
sham pension legislation.
• Began pre-litigation preparation and
litigant vetting, in case a lawsuit
becomes inevitable.
• Updated supporters consistently via
the coalition website, action alerts
and social media.
We Are One Illinois has proposed a
four-point plan grounded in the Illinois
Constitution, with a belief any solution
should be fair-minded:
• First, the core problem – all taxpayers,
including public employees, deserve an
ironclad guarantee in law that the state
makes adequate payments into the
pension systems.
• Second, with a guarantee in law, public
employees would be willing to step up
with shared sacrifices to raise significant
money toward the pension debt.
• Third, Illinois has to stop borrowing from
its pension systems to pay for other
expenses. Lawmakers must be honest
about the revenue needed to teach our
children, protect our lives and property,
care for the elderly and disabled, and
provide essential services. Until we
address our revenue problem, we cannot
solve our pension funding problem. That
is why corporations should pay their fair
share of taxes. In these tight fiscal times,
the state can no longer afford billions in
tax loopholes.
• Fourth, retirees should be shielded from
changes to their pensions for decades.
The unfair impact of deep pension
cuts, as proposed by Governor Quinn
and members of the legislature, would
destroy the life savings of retirees.
The We Are One Illinois coalition is
organizing a summit with lawmakers
on February 11, 2013 in order to work
toward enactment of a fair, constitutional
proposal. The legislature can enact
pension legislation anytime between
February 5 and May 31, 2013, with
pressure building as Illinois’bond rating is
downgraded.
It is important to understand why Illinois
has the nation’s worst pension problems.
For decades, lawmakers failed to make
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The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, as a
member of the We Are One Illinois coalition,
will continue to work on behalf of all
members and public employees, with the
realization that whatever occurs within the
state’s pension systems will—in some form
or another—potentially affect other pension
systems for our members in Illinois.
Stay Safe!
Updates from the State House
By Dan Nelson, Director of Governmental Affairs/General Counsel
I
t has been a busy few months
since the fall veto session. In
addition to the ongoing activity
around employee pension reform, the
general election in November brought
nearly 50 freshman legislators—about
a 30 percent turnover, and the 97th
general assembly wrapped up with a
shortened lame-duck session.
January 9, 2013. Five additional new
senators were sworn into the Senate
for the first time, having previously
served as House Representatives:
Jason Barickman (R-Champaign),
Daniel Biss (D-Evanston), Michael
Connelly (R-Lisle), Bill Cunningham
(D-Chicago), and Chapin Rose
(R-Mahomet).
Licenses for Undocumented
Immigrants
Another bill passed—with FOP
member sponsors Senator Tony
Munoz and Representative Eddy
Acevedo—allows undocumented
immigrants to get temporary driver’s
permits. Illinois is the fourth state to
allow such driving privileges.
November 2012 General
Election Highlights
A complete list of new House and
Senate members is provided on page
four.
FOP Endorsement Success
The Illinois FOP State Lodge endorsed
32 candidates. Of those candidates,
81 percent were elected. Meanwhile,
it has been reported that the Chicago
Tribune endorsement/elected rate
was only 17 percent.
97th General Assembly
“Lame Duck” Session
The measure will allow an estimated
250,000 illegal immigrants statewide
to apply for the temporary licenses,
which will be valid for three years.
Ballot Initiative to Amend the
Illinois Constituton
Amendment 49 to the Illinois
Constitution would have required
a three-fifths majority vote of the
General Assembly, or the governing
body of a unit of local government,
to pass any benefit increase for any
public employee. All ballot initiatives
to amend the Illinois Constitution
require a three-fifths majority (60%)
to pass. Nearly 5 million people voted
in the election. With only 56 percent
of Illinoisans supporting the initiative,
the attempt to amend the Illinois
Constitution failed.
House and Senate Member
Compositions
In the 98th General Assembly,
House Democrats will hold a 71-47
advantage over Republicans; and
Senate Democrats will have a 40-19
majority over Republicans.
Fourty-six “freshman legislators,”
including 31 representatives and 15
senators, were sworn into office on
The lame duck session had several
difficult issues facing it, including:
public pensions, same-sex marriage
and gambling expansion. Each of
these issues were ultimately sidestepped and new bills will need to be
filed in the new session.
Expedited FOID Review
An FOP-initiated bill to create
procedures for expedited FOID
review—for police who seek mental
health care for work related issues—
passed on the final day of the 97th
General Assembly. Those and other
protections were put in place to
create a ‘safe harbor’ for officers to
seek help when it is most needed.
This bill came out of discussions
from the State Lodge-initiated Police
Suicide Task Force and real-life cases
from the Chicago Police Department.
The outstanding work of FOP Chicago
Lodge 7 lobbyist Mark Donahue and
Representative Dena Carli (also an
FOP member) brought this important
bill through long negotiations and
several revisions to pass with a final
vote in the House of 111 yea – 0 nay.
Opponents argued that the measure
could lead to fraud, while supporters
advocated that the legislation would
ensure that illegal immigrants took
road tests and carried insurance.
Minority Leader Tom Cross rose in
support of the bill.
Pension Reform
Many proposals to reform the
pension systems were floated, but
all sank. One proposal, offered by
representatives Nekritz and Biss,
included requiring higher payments
from workers and freezing the costof-living increases for six years.
Another, passed last year by the
State Senate, would have forced
workers to choose between state
health care or retirement benefits.
Lastly, a proposal by Governor Quinn
(amended six times on the last day
of session) would have created a
commission to remake the pension
systems. The bill, dubbed “Hail Mary
Pass” by opponents, made it through
committee, but no further.
Public Pension Summit
A Public Pension Summit is scheduled
for February 11, 2013. Leadership
from both parties have been invited
to meet with the labor leaders in
Continued on page 4...
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State House Update, continued from page 3.
the We Are One coalition to find a
solution to the long standing pension
funding issue.
The Fraternal Order of Police has
been, and will continue, to work
with all parties to find real solutions
that make good law. With the best
interests of public employees, retirees
and all taxpayers in mind, it is our
hope that the state’s political leaders
will recognize the importance of
including employees’ voices and
concerns in developing that solution.
We are committed to protecting the
pensions that our police families rely
on and ensuring guaranteed funding
for retirement systems going forward.
For ongoing information about the
State Lodge’s legislative activities,
please visit www.ilfop.org and “like”
us on Facebook.
To get involved with pension reform
issues, and to stay abreast of ongoing
activities and information, please visit
www.weareoneillinois.com.
98th General Assembly
NEW House and Senate Members
Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois State Senate
By District
7 Chris Welch (D-Chicago)
10 Derrick Smith (D-Chicago)
14 Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago)
17 Laura Fine (D-Glenview)
19 Robert Martwick (D-Norridge)
21 Silvana Tabares (D-Chicago)
26 Christian Mitchell (D-Chicago)
33 Marcus Evans (D-Chicago)
34 Elgie Sims (D-Chicago)
35 Frances Ann Hurley (D-Palos Hills) *
42 Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton)
46 Deborah O’Keefe Conroy (D-Elmhurst)
52 David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills)
55 Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines)
58 Scott Drury (D-Highwood)
62 Sam Yingling (D-Round Lake Beach)
64 Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake)
68 John Cabello (R-Machesney Park)
71 Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) *
77 Kathleen Willis (D-Addison)
79 Katherine Cloonen (D-Kankakee)
81 Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove)
84 Stephanie Kifowit (D-Aurora)
86 Larry Walsh, Jr. (D-Elwood) *
90 Tom Demmer (R-Dixon)
96 Sue Scherer (D-Decatur)
98 Natalie Manley (D-Joliet)
106 Josh Harms (R-Watseka)
108 Charlie Meier (R-Okawville)
110 Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville)
116 Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) *
By District
5 Patricia Van Pelt Watkins (D-Chicago)
9 Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) **
12 Steven Landek (D-Bridgeview)
15 Napoleon Harris (D-Flossmoor)
18 Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) **
19 Michael Hastings (D-Orland Hills)
21 Michael Connelly (R-Lisle) **
23 Thomas Cullerton (D-Villa Park)
25 Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove)
29 Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield)
31 Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake)
34 Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) *
37 Darin LaHood (R-Peoria)
38 Sue Rezin (R-Morris)
43 Pat McGuire (D-Joliet)
48 Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) *
49 Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) *
51 Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) **
53 Jason Barickman (R-Champaign) **
* Endorsed by the Illinois Fraternal Order of
Police
** Formerly a member of the Illinois House of
Reprsentatives
Important Update from James R. Ridge, Attorney at Law
I
am happy to announce that
James M. Ridge & Associates,
P.C., has merged with Daniel J.
Downes, and will be known in the
future as Ridge & Downes.
While continuing to represent
injured people in personal injury
and workers’ compensation
matters, Ridge & Downes
and Daniel J. Downes, P.C.
will represent injured railroad
workers under FELA and in
whistleblower actions.
Our offices remain at their
current locations in Chicago and
Peoria, and our phone numbers
have not changed.
We look forward to continuing
our service to you and your
families.For personal injury and
workers’ compensation, call (800)
572-1136.
Visit Ridge & Downes online at
www.ridgedownes.com.
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A Message from Robert “Rocky” Nowaczyk
National Trustee, Illinois State Lodge
T
his past December, the Illinois
FOP State Lodge lost a legend.
Bill Mehrtens, charter
president and longtime member of
Jackson County Lodge 117, passed
away on December 10, 2012. At the
time of his passing, Bill Mehrtens
was the 2nd Vice President of the
Illinois State Lodge. The State Lodge,
FOP Labor Council, the National FOP
and, in particular, the local lodges of
southern Illinois lost a devoted FOP
worker, organizer and friend.
Bill was always behind the FOP 100
percent. He loved the work involved
with the FOP, and his passion was
legislative work and Illinois Police
Memorial research. An intellectual
by trade, Bill was a good public
speaker and loved to show off
his vocabulary. Those who knew
Bill knew that he was a genuine
individual - what you saw is what you
got. The young officers and future
leaders of the FOP will never really
know the influence Bill had on our
profession and organization. Future
leaders can take a page from Bill’s
legacy and continue the hard work
and dedication to an Order that
he believed in. The State Lodge
will endure thanks to the men and
women of the Order, and to men like
Bill Mehrtens.
life—how true that statement is.
As we start a new year, with new
expectations and new challenges,
let us remember the work ethic for
which Bill will be remembered and
regarded. We will definitely miss
the experience and personality of
Bill, but for those that knew him, his
glowing spirit will never be forgotten.
Rest well my dear brother. Your work
is complete.
Bill Mehrtens, Second Vice President
of the Illinois State Lodge, passed
away on December 10, 2012. Bill was
a longtime member of the Fraternal
Order of Police.
The passing of Bill reminds me of a
story from the State Lodge Board
of Trustees meeting in December
2012. Bill was gravely ill and his
prognosis was not good. State Lodge
Trustee Jason Moran had to leave the
meeting early due to a call from his
wife who indicated that it was time
to deliver their baby. Mike Vladetich,
another State Lodge Trustee, noted
the irony that, as we were talking
about Bill’s illness, another life was
coming into the world. The circle of
Also, let us not forget our brothers
and sisters on the east coast who
are still recovering from devastating
storms. The National FOP Disaster
Relief Fund has provided over
$70,000 to FOP members affected
by these storms. There will be more
funds needed as damage amounts
are reported. Consider donating
to the National FOP Disaster Relief
Fund.
As always, I am ready to serve the
membership. Please do not hesitate
to contact me for information or
concerns about the National FOP. As
the State Lodge prepares to celebrate
its 50th anniversary, may we
continue to flourish and look forward
to the next 50 years.
State Lodge Accepting New and Renewing Associate Members
It’s Time to Renew for 2013!
A
ssociate membership—the
civilian membership program
of the Illinois State Lodge—
gives family members, friends and
advocates the opportunity to support
law enforcement officers and their
families, as well as keep informed
about issues important to our state’s
police officers.
Benefits
• Only $30 per year!
• Receive a membership card and
decal for your car!
• Stay informed about important and timely news and issues that affect law enforcement in Illinois!
• Support those who protect you
and your family!
5
To be granted Associate membership,
all applicants must have an eligible
sponsor or agree to undergo a background check by the State Lodge.
For additional information and the
application, please visit www.ilfop.org
or call (217) 726-8880.
Twas’ the Season for Giving: Local Lodges Make the Holidays Brighter for
Community Children and Families
By Rebecca Phillips, Director of Communications & Member Relations
Calument City Lodge 1 Hosted 26th Annual Santa Run
Santa and his elves arrived in Calumet City a few days early this
past Christmas. On Saturday, December 22, Calumet City Lodge 1
hosted its 26th annual Santa Run - delivering gifts to the homes of
more than 45 children.
The children—identified primarily by local schools—are from lower
income families. “It is very rewarding to go to a home with Santa
and watch the eyes of a child light up and know that your efforts
have given a family who is struggling in today’s econony a Merry
Santa (Lodge 1 Secretary Bill Siems) greets an excited
Christmas and Happy New year,” said Jeff Newberg, Calumet City
child during the Santa Toy Run.
police officer and State Lodge Sergeant-at-Arms.
Naperville Lodge 42 Hosted 4th Annual “Shop With a Cop”
Nine lucky children in Naperville participated in a $150 shopping
spree with a police officer on December 14, 2012.
The children, selected primarily because of their socio-economic
status, were encouraged to make purchases for their family
members first and then buy something for themselves toward
the end of the shopping trip. “Sometimes it can be challenging
to keep the kids focused on the sharing and giving aspect,” said
Lodge Vice President Mike Caruso. “But when they do, they have
a great feeling of accomplishment when they pick out something
for a loved one.”
Members of Naperville Lodge 42 sponsor a “Shop with a
Cop” event on December 14, 2012.
Williamson County Lodge 197 Participated in Santa’s Bike
Give-Away
Members of the Williamson County FOP Lodge 197 were proud to
assist with efforts to provide bicycles for low-income children in
their county. The lodge donated several bikes to the Williamson
County Tourism Bureau for its annual “Santa Bike Give-Away” that
brought in a total of 160 bikes. Next year, the lodge hopes to be
able to provide helmets to all the children who receive a bike.
“It is always good when we have opportunities to interact with the
children in our community in a positive way,” said Lodge President President Karl Gusentine shows off the bikes Lodge 197
Karl Gusentine. “Too often, our encounters with them are due to
collected for children in Williamson County.
negative circumstances. This initiative, along with our annual shop
with a cop event, allows us to foster positive relationships with
kids.”
The Enforcers Lodge 278 Provided Turkeys to Families in
Need
On November 20, 2012, The Enforcers Lodge 278 distributed more
than 60 turkeys to low-income children and their families. The
lodge—located in Chicago—held a fundraiser in October to raise
the necessary funds to buy the turkeys.
“It makes us feel good to do this,” said Lodge President Jose Isais.
“This activity gives us a sense of group effort—everyone in the
lodge contributes—and we get great joy out of helping the families
in our community.”
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FOP Lodge 278 members deliver turkeys on November
20, 2012. Pictured, left to right, are Miguel Ramirez,
President Jose Isais, Treasurer Nelson Rivera, Johanna
Almaraz, Secretary Adrian Alejo, and Joy and Kevin
Kreuser.
Did You Know...Policies and Procedures Govern the Sale and Use of FOP
“Marks” and Merchandise
By Rebecca Phillips, Director of Communications & Member Relations
T
he FOP logo—”marks”—is
something of which all active
members should be proud.
Whether it is the State Lodge or
National Lodge logo, it is an honor for
lodges and members to display their
fraternalism, and such demonstration
is encouraged by both the state and
national lodges.
However, misuse of the marks
continues to be an area of great
concern. All lodge officers and
members are encouraged to review
the following information regarding
the use of the FOP marks, misuse and
violations, and obtaining permission
to use the marks.
Use of the FOP Marks
In accordance with the National
Constitution, Article 1, Section 2 and
Article 8, Section 3 and the National
By-Laws, Article 1, the National
Board of Trustees shall establish rules
pertaining to the use of the Fraternal
Order of Police name, insignia, and
logo; known collectively as “the
marks.”
Lodges shall be granted permission
for use of the marks for identification
purposes (for example: lodge business
cards, letterhead, building signs,
promotional material for recruitment
and fundraising material).
Lodges may be granted use of the
marks for civic activities such as a
Torch Run, little league athletic team
uniforms, and the like.
Lodges may be granted use of the
marks to commemorate a special
occasion, such as a state conference
or national conference, to help
defray the cost of such an event. This
permission may include a surcharge to
the Grand Lodge.
Active member vehicle emblems,
decals and license plates shall only be
displayed by the member themself or
those of his/her immediate family still
living in the household.
No member shall sell, give or loan to
a non-member any item bearing the
words “active member” nor items that
would lead a reasonable person to
believe that such persons displaying
such item is an active member of the
Fraternal Order of Police. Bumper
stickers or similar decals used in
fundraising by lodges shall include the
words or wording “booster, sponsor or
supporter.”
Misuse and Violations
Violation(s) to these rules shall result
in the following:
1. The State Lodge shall conduct an
investigation, which shall
include a written report detailing
the member’s statement, the
number of incidents where the
member violated this rule and the
action taken by the State Lodge.
2. The State Lodge shall submit a
copy of the report to the National
Secretary.
3. Members who violate this rule
shall be banned from purchasing
FOP items from the National
Lodge or the Fraternal Order of
Police official merchandiser.
4. State Lodges are directed to take
these violations as serious
breeches and shall comply
with this rule within sixty (60)
days of notification of violation(s).
An extension may be requested
when circumstances do not allow
a lodge to complete the
investigation within the sixty (60)
days. Extensions may be granted
in thirty (30) day increments.
7
Obtaining Permission for Usage of
the Marks
As in all cases of intended use of
the marks, written permission
shall be requested from the local
lodge. Such requests shall set out
specific information as to the item(s)
produced, which may include quantity
of items, vendor or manufacturer,
time period of sale, and other such
details.
For use of the Illinois State Lodge logo,
members should complete the usage
agreement form and submit it to
the State Lodge for approval prior to
usage of the marks. If you are unable
to access the hyperlink provided
above, please contact the State Lodge
at statelodge@ilfop.org or (217) 7268880.
For specific information about using
the National FOP marks, please visit
http://www.fop.net/about/marks/.
About the Fraternal Order of Police, Illinois State Lodge
T
he Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), founded nearly 100 years ago in 1915, is the largest organization of
sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing
officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois
FOP is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing nearly 34,000 active duty and retired police officers
– more than 10 percent of all FOP member nationwide.
Mission
The FOP, Illinois State Lodge has adopted the following MISSION: “To encourage fraternal, charitable, and
social activities among law enforcement officers. To increase the efficiency of the law enforcement profession
and thus more firmly establish the confidence of the public in the service dedicated to the protection of life
and property.” Current Lodge focus areas include attracting new members and associate members, informing
members, the public and encouraging donations to support member benefits and programs.
Lodge Preamble
“We, the law enforcement officers of the State of Illinois and the several political subdivisions thereof, as
representatives and delegates of the subordinate Lodges, do hereby associate the several Lodges we represent
and the members thereof for the following purposes:
To support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of Illinois; to inculcate loyalty and
allegiance to the state of Illinois and the United States of America; to promote and foster the enforcement of
law and order; to improve the individual and collective proficiency of our members in the performance of their
duties; to encourage fraternal, educational, charitable and social activities among law enforcement officers; to
advocate and strive for uniform application of the civil service merit system for appointment and promotion; to
support the improvement of the standard of living and working conditions of the law enforcement profession
through every legal and ethical means available; to create and maintain the tradition of esprit de corps,
insuring fidelity of duty under all conditions and circumstances; to cultivate a spirit of fraternalism and mutual
helpfulness among our members and the people we serve; to increase the efficiency of the law enforcement
profession, and thus more firmly to establish the confidence of the public in the service dedicated to the
protection of life and property.”
© 2013 by Illinois Fraternal Order of Police
4341 Acer Grove, Suite B • Springfield, IL 62711
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.