President's Report 

                                                          

   Mission Statement
 The Fraternal Order of Police is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 324,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges. West Virginia State Fraternal Order of Police is made up of over 2400 officers. 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.
We, the law enforcement officers of West Virginia do hereby associate the several lodges we represent and the members thereof for the following purposes:
To support and defend the Constitution of the United States; to inculcate loyalty and allegiance to the United States of America; to promote and foster the enforcement of law and order; to improve the individual and collective proficiency of our members in the performance of their duties; to encourage fraternal, educational, charitable and social activities among law enforcement officers; to advocate and strive for uniform application of the civil service merit system for appointment and promotion; to support the improvement of the standard of living and working conditions of the law enforcement profession through every legal and ethical means available; to create and maintain tradition of esprit de corps insuring fidelity to duty under all conditions and circumstances; to cultivate a spirit of fraternalism and mutual helpfulness among our members and the people we serve; to increase the efficiency of the law enforcement profession and thus more firmly to establish the confidence of the public in the service dedicated to the protection of life and property.

Presidents Report
22 June 2008

Greetings, brothers and sisters of West Virginia Fraternal Order of Police. I will start off by thanking both lodges (Central WV Lodge #114 and Mountaineer Lodge #78) that undertook the task of hosting the 43rd Biennial State Conference at Stonewall Resort June 8-11. From the comments I received, everyone had a great time, from the informal gatherings, meetings, dinners, fishing and golf tournament, which the host lodges, planned for our enjoyment. As the state president it was my duty to chair the meetings, this year nominations for all offices were held on Monday (this was to give people who wished to run for offices, time to speak to each lodge that was represented.) We had one contested race after the nominations were completed.
I would like to thank all delegates for your continued support as your re-elected state president for the next two-year term. The Executive Board of the West Virginia State Fraternal Order of Police will continue the work we have developed over the past four years. No changes were made to the Executive Board by election, below are the Executive Board names and positions.

Steve Walker, President
Joe Crawford, Vice President
Bill Barry, Secretary
Daren McNeil, Treasurer
Herman Beckett, National Trustee
John Feather, 2nd Vice President
David Gentry, Sgt. At Arms
Jim Kudlak, Chaplin
Cecil Chiplinsky, State Trustee Chairman

I do want to speak about one of the items, which came up and passed during our conference. That is the National FOP Legal Defense Fund, I attend seminars the past two years in Nashville, Tennessee and this is one of the seminars that I attended. I hear from a lot of members what does the FOP do for me, my usual response is what do you do for the FOP, however as I looked at this benefit I get excited. The National FOP thru the Hylant Group administers the Legal Defense Fund. The coverage you may purchase is:
Full coverage – Administrative, Criminal & Civil
Two Coverage’s- Administrative + (1) (Civil or Criminal)
Two Coverage’s- Civil & Criminal together
Single Coverage- Civil or Criminal only

Ask your State Trustee about more information or go to www.fophylant.com A committee was formed during the state conference this year and the committee has recommended that any active FOP member will be reimbursed a percentage of their cost, depending on which coverage you purchase up to the next two years. All you have to do for a refund is show either by canceled check or credit card you purchased this insurance and the state treasurer will forward your reimbursement. It will cost you less than $.55 per day for the full coverage, before the rebate, that’s less than a cup of coffee or a soda! The more we get on this plan the better the rate for all officers, please contact your state trustee for more information or visit the National Fraternal Order of Police web site www.grandlodgefop.org  (At this time retiree’s don’t get a discount from the state lodge.)

I will stop on that note, remember if you have news you would like to get out to all members please contact me at this site or by phone.



The National Fraternal Order of Police Conference will be held in Long Beach CA August 16 thru 21, 2009, I suggest anyone who plan on attending make your reservations at your earliest convenience.

                                                        


Reminder: FOP Unanimously Endorses Resolution Calling for Boycott of eBay
Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, announced today that the organization unanimously adopted a resolution calling for its members, their families, and friends to boycott the online vendor, eBay.
The 58th Biennial Fraternal Order of Police Conference has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a boycott of the online vendor, eBay.
The resolution, introduced by National Secretary Pat Yoes, and adopted at the 58th National Biennial Fraternal Order of Police conference held in Louisville, Kentucky, is in response to eBay's continual allowance of sales of items bearing the FOP insignia and other police identifiers and police related items.
"The Grand Lodge had repeatedly reached out to eBay to ban the sale of these items, but the company has refused to do so. This total lack of regard for the safety of police officers throughout the country led to the adoption of the resolution," Canterbury said.
Despite the fact that eBay allows the sale of FOP insignia, it does not allow the sale of pilot's uniforms, postal uniforms, various military metals, and other items. In a letter to eBay, National FOP General Counsel Larry James noted that in the post, law enforcement officers have been killed due to an individual having FOP insignia's on their cars, despite not being FOP members. EBay did not feel that this " anecdotal incident" was worth changing their policy and rejected the FOP's request to remove FOP insignia from being sold on their website, thus leading to the adoption of the resolution.
The intent of the resolution is in part to convey the concerns and displeasure of the law enforcement community with eBay's inability and indifference to recognize that the sale of these items poses a threat to public safety. With the adoption of the resolution, the Grand will notify all State and subordinate lodges and media outlets of this boycott and are committing itself to continued efforts of preventing the sale of Fraternal Order of Police items and other related police identifiers.
"I am asking that all FOP members, their families, and friends, abide by this resolution to ensure that eBay removes all FOP identifiers from its website," President Canterbury said.


Be safe in your duties.

Fraternally,

H. Stephen Walker,
President