Two foot patrolman Martin Toole and Delbert Nagle were the original Pittsburgh Police Officers who thought of organizing other officers into a body to secure much needed improvement in their way of life.  During the era of 1915 Police Officers were underpaid and overworked.  Their job security was at the whim of a politician who could fire them at the drop of a hat and they had no recourse for unjustified dismissal.

Police were forced, at times, to work twelve hours a day, three hundred sixty-five days a year and no thought of being paid overtime.  Their patience was worn thin and were ready to organize so a group they would have strength in seeking justice for their plight.

Considerable planning had to be done in a very secretive manner for if their plans were know "heads could hit the chopping block".  Twenty-three men met in secret at 9:00 A.M. at the Wabash Station Building, Ferry Street and Liberty Avenue, Friday, May 14, 1915.  It was at that meeting that the name Fraternal Order of Police was adopted.  Temporary Officers were elected until such time when a Charter for the organization was granted.

At a meeting Wednesday, November 17, 1915 Attorney Robert G. Woodside read the Charter granted earlier that day by Judge Thomas J. Ford of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Immediately plans were formulated to lobby City Council for a reduction of the 365 day work schedule.  Council realized that action must be taken on the F.O.P.'s complaint and passed an ordinance Monday, October 9, 1916 giving police officers two days off each month with pay.  Other police departments took notice and began to organize under Pittsburgh's leadership.

State Lodges were established and then the Grand Lodge was formed to encompass the United States.  From the original 23 members the membership now totals over 296,000 and there are 2,000 local Lodges and one in Dublin, Ireland.

_{excerpted from The Roots of the F.O.P. by John F. McMahon}