FOP History in Wisconsin

FOP history in Wisconsin goes back to the late 1930s, to the Wausau Police Department.

The Grand Lodge looked to expand west from the eastern states with their rally call for fair treatment for all law enforcement officers. Compared to other states, Wisconsin law enforcement officers already had good working relationships with their administration and a lodge in Wausau was formed under the Grand Lodge.

Unfortunately the expansion could not maintain focus on "stand alone" Lodges and a few years later the Wasusau Lodge became inactive. Today, a visit to the Wausau P.D. will reveal a special wall full of pictures and documents dedicated to their Lodge.

During the Fall of 1991 Princeton police officer Larry Simon had a vision to bring the Fraternal Order of Police into Wisconsin to provide support for local police officers. With the assistance of retired FOP Chicago Lodge 7 members living in the Princeton, Wisconsin area, on January 18th, 1992 the Fraternal Order of Police formally entered the State of Wisconsin. At this inaugural meeting which was presided over by then FOP Grand Lodge National Treasurer Bill Nolan, the following group of 15 police officers signed the charter on January 18th, 1992. Officer Simon was unanimously elected President of Wisconsin Lodge #1, and membership swelled from Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties but in 1998 Lodge 1 fell into inactive status.

As if it was planned, in 1998 the FOP message was also being spread in Green Bay and after some organizing, Green Bay Lodge 2 was chartered in Green Bay in April and Central Wisconsin Lodge 3 was charted in Grand Marsh in June.

  • In April of 2000, Western Wisconsin Lodge 4 was formed in Tomah, Wisconsin.
  • In July of 2001, Eagle Valley FOP Lodge 5 was formed in Baraboo, Wisconsin.
  • In June of 2002, Rock River Lodge 6 was formed in Beloit, Wisconsin.

In August of 2002 the Wisconsin State Lodge was formed with the assistance from the State Lodges in Illinois, and Minnesota, and members of FOP Lodges in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin State Lodge was chartered by then National Vice President Chuck Canterbury in Green Bay.

  • In February of 2003, Capitol City Lodge 7 was formed in Madison, Wisconsin.
  • In May of 2003, Cream City Lodge 8 was formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
  • In July of 2003, Lake Superior Lodge 9 was formed in Superior, Wisconsin.
  • In October of 2004, Kettle Moraine Lodge 10 was formed in West Bend, Wisconsin.
  • In April of 2005, Heartland Memorial Lodge 1 was formed in Green Lake, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin FOP currently has 8 active local lodges and over 500 members.


1939 Wausau


WI State Lodge Chartering 2002

If you are interested in more information on how the Fraternal Order of Police began we welcome you to visit the Grand Lodge website at: www.fop.net.