Fraternalism
Fraternalism
The brotherhood we share being FOP members is bar-none the greatest reason why we should all join together and become members of the greatest Police Labor Organization in the world. Cops for Cops, The Fraternal Order of Police. You have to be in Law Enforcement to be a member, and in Law Enforcement to run this organization. We are not polluted like most the other labor organizations with non-law enforcement personnel running the show. Who knows better the issues and challenges we face than the officers who have patrolled the beat and served our communities. If we don’t take care of our own, no one else will. If there is one message I would like to get across from this article, it is this. Take a look at what the FOP has done around this country and in each state they represent a majority of its officers. Take a look at what has been accomplished for the betterment of law enforcement and the communities they serve. You will have to agree, this organization rules bar none, Best of the Best.
Just take a look at our FOP emblem. It explains who and what we are.
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, Fides, Libertatum" which translated means,
"Law is a Safeguard of Freedom."
I would like to share with you a great story that happened at the last national biennial conference, held in New Orleans just two weeks before Hurricane Katrina hit. Like most conferences there are after hour activities. This activity was on the River Walk. There were many FOP lodges from around the county that had tables set up for different purposes. As I was walking around I came across a table that was set up by the Washington State Lodge. I saw on this table a large refrigerator magnet with the name, Michael Kralicek. As a lot of you know, I knew who Mike Kralicek was. He was the Couer d’ Alene Police Officer who was shot point blank in the line of duty, December 28th 2004. I was first informed about the shooting from Washington National Trustee, Jack Simington. Mike was in a coma for several weeks in a Seattle Hospital, came out of his coma, and is currently rehabilitating from the injuries he received. To learn more about Mike and his status, go the Idaho FOP web site, www.idahofop.com .
As the news of Mike’s status was relayed to me by our brothers in Washington, I forwarded this information to all our officers that are on the Idaho FOP e-mail list. Without ever personally meeting Mike, I knew who he was.
I asked the person who was at the Washington State Lodge table about the refrigerator magnets. I was told that they were for sale and that the proceeds would be then turned over to the Kralicek family. The Seattle area FOP lodge played a great roll in making sure the Kralicek family needs were met while Mike was critically wounded in one of their hospitals.
I had a brief conversation with the person at the table about Mike, what I knew, and how the Idaho FOP’s priorities were to fix our catastrophic disability benefits officers receive in Idaho. Anything less than total disability benefit in Idaho is a shamble and needs to change. I was proud to be an FOP member at that moment, seeing strangers to another officer in need working to help him where help was needed. This is what the FOP is about. I went about my business that night and returned to the conference the next day, not knowing what was about to transpire.
Early that morning the Chairman of the Disaster Relief Committee, Frank Ferreyra came up to me on the conference floor. Frank heard about my conversation last evening about Mike Kralicek and the disability benefits we in Idaho have. Frank informed me that I was going to tell the Mike Kralicek story in front of the delegation in about two hours.
If you have ever been to a national conference, you know how many people are there. I’ve taught many classes, spoken before many groups, but never have I spoken before thousands. My head was spinning. First I had to make sure all my facts were straight. Second, I had to make sure I could do this, but this is such an important issue, I was determined to make it happen.
I had never spoken to the Kralicek family. Every piece of information I had about Mike was from a third party. I wanted to make sure that everything I was about to tell was correct, so I made a call to Couer d’ Alene and spoke to Chief of Police, Wendy Carpenter. I had met Wendy at an Idaho Chief of Police Association meeting about a month prior. I know she is very popular amongst the rank and file officers of her department. I knew she could be trusted so I made the call.
Wendy was very excited about what I was about to do. She gave me a current update on Mike’s condition. Wendy also filled me in on some of the turmoil’s the Kralicek family has faced since the shooting. I took notes and prepared for my speech.
The New Orleans Conference Center is the largest in the United States. The room we were in was over a football field wide and two or three football fields long. During any course of business at the conference many things went on at the same time, people giving speeches at the podium and floor mikes. Business was also being conducted all through the conference hall. Sometimes it was difficult to hear what was being said due to the noise level on the floor, and now it was my turn to give the Mike Kralicek story to all.
I started my speech, Mike’s photograph I got from the Couer d’ Alene PD web page was on the big screen. The room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Never did the floor of the conference become so quiet. I could hear and feel my heart beating. The sound of my voice echoing though the conference hall seconds after I was speaking freaked me out to say the least, but I went on with my speech. By the end, Frank Ferreyra came forward and asked for donations from the floor. I couldn’t believe what happened next. State Lodges, Local Lodges, individuals all came forward pledging money. People rushed up to me, getting mine and the State Lodges information. Cash was being handed to me; it was truly a memorable moment, one I will never forget. By the time it was all said and done, over $25,000.00 had been raised for Mike and his family.
I had the privilege in meeting Mike and his wife Carrie in Couer d’ Alene on October 6th 2005. Myself with two members of the Washington State Lodge, Nick Seibert and Charlie Stemple, presented to Mike a check of the monies that came to the Idaho State Lodge for the Kralicek family. I read an inspirational letter written by Idaho Sate Lodge President, Todd Raymond to Mike prior to giving him the check. You can find a copy of this letter on the Idaho FOP web page. At this ceremony, Mike for the first time since the shooting, was able to lean up against the podium in the room and stand before all his colleagues. It was truly a miracle to see Mike do this, especially when you consider the injuries he received from the shooting.
I later sat and spoke with both Mike and his wife Carrie. I can’t tell you how many times I have spoken to them since. They are both true modern day hero’s, and want to make sure no other Police Officer go through what they went through. Their determination to better the disability benefits for all law enforcement is one we all need to take note on and commend them for what they have and are doing for us all.
While speaking with Mike and Carrie, I informed them both about an attorney out of Pennsylvania named Gary Lightman. I met Gary at a Presidents meeting in Las Vegas about a month after my speech in New Orleans. Gary informed me, after telling me he heard my speech in New Orleans, that he has already researched the disability benefits offered to law enforcement in Idaho. Gary then gave me his opinion and also stated that he will help us right our legislation for improving disability benefits for law enforcement in Idaho. Gary was given the green light by the Pennsylvania State Lodge to do what it takes to help us. Gary is the main FOP attorney in Pennsylvania and a major force in the betterment of labor laws for law enforcement in his state and around the country. Gary had also offered his services to the Kralicek family to make sure Mike receives all the disability benefits he has coming to him. I later learned that Gary Lightman has never charged a dime for his services when it comes to disability benefits for law enforcement officers and offered his services to Mike and Idaho for free.
Gary has written a piece of legislation for Idaho, copying the Heat & Lung Act in Pennsylvania. This legislation can also be found on the Idaho FOP web page.
We, the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police are fighting hard to make life better for all law enforcement in the state. We are not paid employees, just individuals dedicated to a cause that needs our attention. We are working hard on improving the disability benefits for all law enforcement in Idaho. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do.
There are many other law enforcement organizations in the state and around the country; none have taken the steps like the FOP is about to. Our motives are different, Cops for Cops. If we don’t take care of our own, no one else will.
There are three reasons why law enforcement officers do not join the FOP. One is, they have never heard of us. Two is, they don’t truly understand who we are and what we are about. Third is, they are people who are totally committed to themselves and don’t care about the others around them.
Once a law enforcement officer understands who we are and what we represent, there is no reason why not to join. Mike Kralicek was not an FOP member when I made the call in New Orleans, he didn’t have to be. He is a fellow Police Officer who needs assistance. That’s what the FOP is about.
This is just one story of thousands that are out there where the FOP has been in the front lines doing what is right. Believe me when I say, the FOP needs you. Without the support from our brothers & sisters in law enforcement, the FOP would truly diminish. Be a leader and make the right choice, the FOP is the only law enforcement labor organization one should join. We are the voice of law enforcement in Washington D.C., and soon we will be the voice in Idaho.
Fraternally
Brad Landes
National Trustee
Idaho State Fraternal Order of Police