Judge F. Joseph
Thomas
Memorial Lodge No. 108
Crawford
County
Pennsylvania
Officers of Lodge
# 108
FRANK L BARANYAI - PRESIDENT
MICHAEL C PHILLIPS - VICE PRESIDENT
ROBERT GRASSO - SECRETARY
GARY ROGERS - TREASURER
Past
Presidents
Frank L. Baranyai -- 1981 - 1996 (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
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 2,000 local lodges and 270,000 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 PA. FISH & BOAT COMM., PA. GAME COMM. AND WEST MEAD.
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 Nov.24, 2002 by Chief Frank
L Baranyai