Judge
F. Joseph Thomas
Memorial Lodge No. 108
Crawford County
Pennsylvania
Officers of Lodge
# 108
TODD PFEIFER - PRESIDENT 2005-
2006
GREG NICHOLS - VICE PRESIDENT
ROBERT GRASSO - SECRETARY
ERIC JOHNSTON - TREASURER
Past
Presidents
Frank L. Baranyai -- 1981 - 1996 & 2001-2005 (Lodge's 1st President)
John
Yanc -- (1997 -1998)
Jack Rictor (1999-2001)
Judge F. Joseph
Thomas Memorial Lodge # 108
P.O. Box 66
Cochranton, Pennsylvania 16314
(814) 425-3039
Fax (814) 425-7055
E-mail: Chief@cochrantonboro.org
The Tradition Begins
. . .
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 voiced 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 hte 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 1955, the idea of a National Organization
of Police Officers came about. Today, the tradition that was first
envisioned over 82 years ago, lives on with nearly 2,100 local lodges
and 300,000 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.
A Brief History of Our
Lodge :
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #108 gained its birth
at the Crawford CountyCourthouse on December 4, 1981. Both the National
and State FOP Presidents came to the opening of this new lodge. Lodge
#108 represents a number of Police departments and officers in the
County;
COCHRANTON, CONNEAUT LAKE, CONNEAUTVILLE, LINESVILLE, MEADVILLE, VERNON, CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS, SAEGERTOWN, CRAWFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, UNVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - TITUSVILLE, PA. FISH & BOAT COMM., PA. GAME COMM. AND WEST MEAD TWP.
From it's beginning the Lodge
took up the fight to Protect the Officer's in these respective departments.
F.O.P. Lodge # 108 set up the first Police Memorial Day Service and
it is a tradition that continues to this day. The Lodge Officer's and
Members are working hard in a united effort to bring Crawford County
the BEST in Law Enforcement.
Together
"We Are
The Thin Blue Line"
Lodge # 108
Member Department Web Sites
Cochranton
Borough Police Department
Vernon
Township Department
Meadville Police Dept. School Safety Program
Directory of Fraternal Order of
Police Web Sites.
WE WILL NEVER FORGET OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
SEPT. 11 2001
Last UPDATED on Jan. 3, 2005 by Chief Frank
L Baranyai