News from FOP Lodges

Annual Police Unity Tour

A social event to help support local Police Unity Tour participants will be held on Sunday, March 28, at Charlie O’s Tavern in Narragansett. Tickets are $20 for an all-you-can-eat buffet and music by rock soloist Brian “Mance” Mancinanti. Door prizes and cash bar. Download the flyer (2010 Social Night Event.pdf) for additional information.

image is of enameled pin sold through the national Police Unity Tour website. See www.policeunitytour.com for this year’s merchandise.

Motorcycle Run in April to support PS3 Ronald A. Gill Jr.
Memorial Scholarship Foundation

The event on Sunday, April 25, includes a 100-mile round-trip motorcycle ride with full police escort (see ROUTE FOR BIKE RUN[1].doc for route). Registration at Cranston High School West is at 8:30am, with kickstands up at 10am. Dinner at the West Valley Inn in West Warwick will follow the ride. A $25 donation is requested for dinner and a t-shirt. See bike run flier[1].pdf for additional information on the bike run.

PS3 Gill was a graduate of Cranston High School West and Johnson & Wales University. He became a member of the U.S. Coast Guard in 2003, and passed away in March 2008 as a result of injuries sustained in a tragic accident while on a coastal security mission. The memorial scholarship was established in his name to assist Rhode Island students further their educations. See Ronald A. Gill JR..jpg for additional information on PS3 Gill and the memorial scholarship fund.

Around the Nation
Tragedy in Seattle

This tragic story comes to us from Assistant Chief Mike Williams of the Chattanooga (TN) Police Department, courtesy of LT Patrick J. McMahon, MJA, Executive Officer, Charlestown (RI) Police Department.

from left: Lakewood Police officers Greg Richards, Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold and Ronald Owens.

“Fund For Murdered Lakewood Officers' Families

Q13 FOX News Online

4:17 PM PST, November 29, 2009

        

“This morning a complete coward and threat upon all of society took the lives of four of my Guild members and your sworn protectors in a cold blooded assassination. As I write this I am numb. We were dealt a nasty blow, good men and women I have had the honor of knowing for years are senselessly gone. There is no way to comprehend it, to validate it, or to make sense of any of it. You cannot understand evil like this, as a community we must form a solid bond against criminals and hold them accountable. I know my members and can say with certainty that as a group we will remain professional and will continue to work to protect those of you we have taken an oath to protect. If you know a cop tell them how much you appreciate them, it truly keeps us going.

“Please pray for these officers and their families. All of them had significant others and children who are left behind. As a Guild we will do anything we can. If you want to donate to the families our Guild has a benevolent account. Every penny will go to the families; if you want to donate to a specific officer you can write his or her name in the memo section. If the check is made out to LPIG Benevolent Fund at PO Box 99579 Lakewood, WA 98499. I will personally make sure it goes where it is intended. May God bless you four who are in a place so much better than this; you are some of the finest professionals I have ever known. God bless our community today.

“Brian D. Wurts, President
Lakewood Police Independent Guild”

“UPDATE:

Police Surround Home After 4 Officers 'Executed'
Monday, November 30, 2009
Reuters/Pierce County Sheriff's Department

“SEATTLE, WA.  Shots have been fired at a Seattle house where a man sought in the coffee shop killings of four police officers may be holed up.The widely spaced, deliberate gunfire appeared to be directed toward the house by surrounding police. The shots followed negotiators' use of loudspeakers and explosions to prod Maurice Clemmons. Authorities in the region have been seeking Clemmons in the Sunday morning shootings of four Lakewood officers, about 30 miles from the Seattle house. Police around the region had been searching for Clemmons, 37, whom they say was near the coffee shop. Officers surrounding the house shone lights on the house and called out to Clemmons by name, saying: "Mr. Clemmons, I'd like to get you out of there safely. I can tell you this, we are not going away." The officers killed Sunday were a patrol squad made up of three officers and their sergeant. No threats had been made against them or other officers in the region, sheriff's officials said.

“The complete story is at:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,577765,00.html

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-112909-donateofficersfamilies,0,1063812.story” 

 

National Police Memorial Fund
National Police Memorial Fund Publishes New Magazine

Kevin P. Morison, Senior Director of Communications, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has sent the inaugural issue of The Rose & Shield, a new publication that incorporates elements from their previous separate print publication and gift catalog. The magazine has an interesting assortment of articles and gifts, especially appropriate for holiday giving. Download the Winter 2009-10  publication here (Rose_Shield_Winter_2009-10.pdf).

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Offers Window Decals
Craig W. Floyd, Chairman and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund sends the following message:

“I'm excited to inform you that our 2010 Memorial Supporter window-cling decal will be available next week. Be sure to reserve yours now (http://support.nleomf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=2010_Supporter_Decal).

“I encourage you to place it on your car or home window to show everyone your support for our nation's law enforcement officers - especially our fallen heroes. And I hope you will be sure to support the Memorial today with a gift of $5.00 or more (https://secure3.convio.net/nleomf/site/Donation2?df_id=1860&1860.donation=form1&Level=2225&autologin=true&PREFILL_AMOUNT=$5.00).Your support of the Memorial Fund's programs means the world to the families of fallen officers ... and to their fellow officers who still serve today.

“When survivors of a fallen officer see the Memorial window decal on cars and home windows, they are reminded that their loved one is never forgotten. Law enforcement officers often see them and immediately recognize you as a Memorial supporter.So be sure to order your decal today.

“Thanks for all you do to help the Memorial Fund ensure that the service and sacrifice of America's peace officers are forever remembered.

“Sincerely,
Craig W. Floyd
Chairman & CEO”

News from the National FOP Lodge
National FOP Highlights Call for Protest Against Capital Records
In the September 29th issue of e-News Update, the National Fraternal Order of Police passes along a call from independent, record company BLEVE to protest recent actions by conglomerate Capitol Records.

BLEVE was started by retired Metro Nashville police officer Mickey Milan to benefit the FOP’s and International Association of Firefighters’ disaster relief funds. Entertainer Ronnie Milsap recorded the song “My First Ride” to benefit this worthwhile cause, and his friend and fellow entertainer Trace Adkins lent his considerable talent to the recording.

Capitol Records caused a cease and desist order to be filed against BLEVE to stop sales of “My First Ride.” Adkins has an exclusive contract with Capitol, and, in Capitol’s view, his contribution to the BLEVE recording is an “unauthorized use and exploitation of Trace Adkins’ performance and name and dilution of the value of Capitol’s valuable property.”

BLEVE calls on everyone to encourage Capitol to reconsider its action. For more information, download the e-News Update  (Newsletter6a 2.pdf).

News from the R.I. State Lodge FOP
New Contact Information for R.I. State Lodge FOP
R.I. State Lodge FOP has moved into its new location at 269 Greenville Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919. The new phone numbers are: 401 349-4330 (main number); 401 349-4329 (line 2); and 401 349-4313 (fax). The e-mail address remains: stateoffice@rifop.necoxmail.com. For more information, see www.ristatefop.com/.

FOP National Headquarters Changes Associate Member Membership Purchase Policy
The national Fraternal Order of Police has made a change in policy regarding the purchase of associate member merchandise. Effective immediately, all associate member merchandise MUST be ordered by and shipped to the chartering local lodge’s Secretary or President.

In a recent e-mail to interested parties, FOP National Secretary Pat Yoes decried the continuing online trafficking of FOPA merchandise, saying in part: “For a number of years we have had an increasing problem with Fraternal Order of Police merchandise being listed for sale on eBay. Our aggressive enforcement of this violation has yielded some success. Yet, with every person we remove, another steps up and offers items for sale with phrases suggesting that the items are “guaranteed to get you out of a ticket or your money back.”

Secretary Yoes continues: “As lodge leaders, we must do our part to ensure active members and associate members alike use our FOP name and merchandise in an appropriate manner. Since there is not a national database for Associate Members that we can use to verify membership before selling items requested, there is no way to verify eligibility. So to eliminate our exposure to continued abuse, a new policy has been put into effect that all Associate Member merchandise must be ordered by and shipped to the chartering local lodge’s secretary or president. This policy change is not intended to impede or discourage associate lodges or the sale of Associate Member merchandise, but rather to call attention to a growing problem of abuse.”

Ziggy Quinn, R.I. State Lodge FOP President, takes this situation very seriously and reminds all associate members that selling associate member merchandise is a serious offense and will not be tolerated. For more information, see www.grandlodgefop.org/.