Who we are:
The Fraternal Order of Police is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than two thousand one hundred lodges and over 326,000 members.
We are the voice of those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities. We are committed to improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation.
No one knows the dangers and the difficulties faced by today's police officers better than another officer, and no one knows police officers better than the FOP. Founded in 1915, we are still "Building on a Proud Tradition."
Important Announcements:
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Legislative Committee Message for July 2008 from Brent Jex
As we prepare for the 2008-2009 legislative session at the state, we want to call upon FOP members around the state to seriously consider running for city councils in your areas. If you have policies restricting it, request spouses, family members, or close friends to run. If you live outside your jurisdicition, contact the local FOP lodge where you live to start helping you lay the groundwork now. Many elections are coming up in 2009 and we need to get cops on city councils.
The Utah State FOP has a legislative committee, which will consist of the Legislative Chairman, the Executive Director, and a trustee/representative from each local lodge. The Legislative Committee will meet at 1030 hrs prior to each State Executive Board meeting at the State Lodge offices.
Among the issues we will be pursuing this legislative session are:
(1) Felons who assault police, resist arrest, or damage property during attempts to flee will be charged
with a 3rd degree felony.
(2) Juveniles (16 &17) who committ violent felonies will automatically be certified as adults at the time of arrest
unless remanded back to the Juvenile court by a district court judge.
(3) Restrictions on private vehicles made to look like law enforcement vehicles. Security vehicles will be required to
display "SECURITY" on the vehicle.
Please contact me or Kelly Atkinson if you would like to be on the committee, and advise your local lodge president that you would like to be your lodge representative.
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UPDATE ON HR 218 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SAFETY ACT OF 2004 CA STATE COURT DECISION.
From: Crowley, Jim C. Jim.C.Crowley@usdoj.gov
This from NYS - for your info re HR 218:
Lyn Lobdell
Secretary
GOSHEN — Prosecutors won't appeal an Orange County Court judge's rulling that dismissed a weapon-possession charge against an off-duty Coast Guard member from Newburgh.
The decision means that Judge Robert Freehill's ruling will stand as one of the first tests of the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, which exempted certain police officers and retired officers from local laws regulating concealed weapons.
Freehill ruled last week that Petty Officer Benjamin Booth was a qualified law enforcement officer under the federal law, because the scope of his duties includes making arrests as a boarding officer.
Prosecutors argued that Booth, who was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon last year, was carrying a weapon in his car without a permit, and wasn't allowed by the Coast Guard to carry a gun while he was off-duty.
Mark Schuh, a Middletown police lieutenant and a practicing lawyer who teaches law at mid-Hudson police academies and at in-service training in Middletown, said he'll incorporate the decision into future classes.
"For a law that is four years old, it has remarkably little authority interpreting it," Schuh said. "So any case interpreting LEOSA is a step toward clarification."
Booth isn't out of the woods yet. Freehill ruled that carrying an unlicensed handgun off-duty is likely a violation of Coast Guard regulations, even though it's not a violation of the law. Booth is also facing a federal charge of receiving the handgun in question from a Massachusetts gun dealer in 2005 without having the necessary license to collect, deal or import firearms. He's free on $20,000 bond while he fights that case.
On Friday, Senior Orange County Assistant District Attorney David R. Huey said that "in view of the facts and circumstances of the case, and in light of the charge that's pending in federal court," the district attorney's office decided against an appeal of Freehill's order.
The order was posted on the Internet this week by the New York Law Reporting Bureau, which doesn't usually publish the full text of decisions from the county courts outside New York City. The bureau says it makes exceptions for cases that are seen as having precedential value or public importance.
Congress passed LEOSA as a way of beefing up anti-terrorism resources in the wake of the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
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The State Convention was a huge success in Moab. Thank you to all the attended. Please see the [about us] tab above for a list of the recently elected and current officers.
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President's Message for October 2007
The Utah State Lodge, with the assistance of all local lodges, was
successful in getting the National 2011 Conference of the Fraternal Order of
Police in Salt Lake City. We will be hosting over 5000 police officers and
there families in our City. The Salt Lake Visitor and Convention Bureau was
also instrumental in helping us in this effort. Salt Lake went up against
Boston Massachusetts. The State Lodge will be forming committees to
organize and promote the National Convention, if you are interested in
assisting in this effort please contact my self at utfoppres[at]msn.com or any
of the State Officers listed on this web page.
It is my hope that we can put together a well organized, and successful
conference, showcasing our great state.
The State lodge is gearing up for the upcoming legislative session. We are
going to once again push to try and get pay equity by going after the 4%
COLA after retirement. Currently City, County and State Police Officers get
a 2.5% COLA after retirement, while all other City, County, & State
employees get up to a 4% COLA. The State Lodge has formed a Legislative
Committee that is meeting monthly, if you have an interest in helping in
this effort and other items on capitol hill please let any State or your
local lodge officer know.
Thank you for your continued support of the Utah State Lodge of the
Fraternal Order of Police.
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A warm welcome our newest lodges Sandy Lodge 21 and Taylorsville Lodge 22.
Version: 1.4 (Saturday 05th of July 2008)
