Pinellas Lodge 43 was formed on March 1, 1966 by a group of local municipal police officers. Since its inception, the lodge has provided for the support of its members through its fraternal association with the State and National Lodge. Historically, the lodge has always provided legal assistance and representation to their members. During the last dozen years, Pinellas FOP has formalized and solidified that support by way of organizing local labor lodges and refining our legal defense program. During those early years, the lodge maintained an approved attorney pool from which to provide representation to the membership in regards to shootings and internal affairs investigations. More recently we have made changes to our program which has advanced this organization to a position of leadership in representing Pinellas County law enforcement officers, and one in which you will find no better reflected than in the results of local labor elections, where the FOP is chosen to represent police officers and sheriff’s deputies in collective bargaining.

In addition to fighting vigorously to defend our members rights and privileges, we offer a comprehensive legal defense plan, a $50,000.00 Line-of-duty death benefit, group life insurance, expert advice from financial advisors and private legal counsel as well as discounted services with participating local business.

Over three years ago, we hired our first full time general counsel, Attorney Kenneth J. Afienko, to address the needs of our growing membership. Ken, a former law enforcement officer himself, has gotten up to speed very fast and provides what many police officers and sheriff’s deputies term outstanding legal representation. His personal experience and understanding of the law enforcement field have proven invaluable for our organization. Our contract with him also provides additional benefits including reduced fees on personal civil issues such as family law or personal injury claims. Ken will also provide for our members a free will for them, and their spouse, as a negotiated benefit as part of your FOP membership.

We have added full time office staff, Diane Dexter, who works in our lodge office Monday through Friday addressing the needs of a large and complex membership. Most recently, we held the Inaugural Code 10-33 Charitable Golf Outing. Proceeds from the annual event will benefit lodge members in times of emergency.

As we enter 2008, Pinellas Lodge 43 will continue to strive to do our best to serve our 1600 members and the communities in which we serve and protect.

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."

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 voices 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 the 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 89 years ago lives on with more than 2,100 local lodges and more than 310,000 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.