OFFICERS & DELEGATES 2008 - 2012

Officers:

President                         Henry Wiehagen

1^St.Vice President            James Hasara

2^nd.Vice President            Dennis Dunegan

Recording Secretary        Richard Ford

Financial Secretary          Frank Weber

Treasurer                         Paul Cmar

Conductor                       Joseph A. Osinski

Guard                                 Earl Fred Herrmann Jr.

Board of Directors:

Chairman                         John Rybar

Vice Chairman                  Philip Meres

Director                           Joseph Kletch

                                        Gerard Purcell

                                        Vincent J. Dicenzo

                                        Joseph Smith

                                         Ronald Dziezgowski

Delegates:

William Tomosky                Dormont           960     

Anthony Diulus                    Penn Hills         903     

Lawrence Heidenreich         Baldwin Boro  874                  

Carlton Nagy                       Pitcairn            812          

Floyd Nevling                      Pleasant Hills     811            

Charles Roka                       Versailles Boro  772           

Edmund Kruse                     Plum Boro          740          

Linda M. Dipietro                County Police     736            

Bryon Williams                    West Mifflin        717             

Edward Lackey                    Plum Boro         702

Charles Toth                        McCandless        688

Christopher Swanson           County Police     663

Larry Heller                         Forest Hills         642

Duane M. Fisher                   Mt. Lebanon       634

Walter Lekovitch                Rankin                 625

Gregory L. Geppert             Swissvale            621

David Banko                        Shaler                 595

Matthew Feldmeier              Plum                   593

Leo McQuillan                      Wilkinsburg         579

James Matrazzo                  N Versailles         578

John Cmar                          Pleasant Hills        548

John Kaschauer                  Homestead           537

John Dugan                        West Mifflin           536

Donna Best                         Sheriff                   369

Donald Hamlin                    Wilkinsburg            352

Gary Martin                        East McKeesport     261

I am compelled to respond to a letter dated February 7, 2007 directed to the membership of the Nashville Metro Police and Officers from the State of Minnesota who belong to the Fraternal Order of Police.  The letter in question, on Teamsters letterhead, had signatories from several F.O.P. Lodges including three from our own Lodge. 

            I am confident that no professional police officer would ever take this or any other document at face value without first investigating the alleged facts represented.  All knowledgeable and informed officers would first confirm the facts and the source of the information and to what purpose it was presented. Many of the things being presented by the Teamsters are identical to the purpose of the F.O.P. since our inception.

            The Fraternal Order of Police began as an organization to protect police officers rights and their families from oppressive political coercion right here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the F.O.P. has continued growing and spreading across the nation protecting the rights and benefits of officers for over 75 years.

            Labor and professional organizations first formed as brotherhoods of workers performing same and specific types of jobs.  The United Auto Workers, United Steel Workers of America, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and in our area the Teamsters Local #205 which represented Dairy Truck Drivers. In their day they did provide for their members but their greed and a changing American society essentially put them out of business with the continually loss of members due to job losses.  Union membership is at a historic and all time low, specifically with the three unions mentioned because the jobs they were chartered and charged to protect are now gone.  Their conduct in the past has lead to the lowest membership roles in fifty years. Steel plants are closed, dairy truck drivers are gone and the autoworker can’t expand their membership in the eight Toyota plants in the United States because those workers won’t join the United Auto Workers.  At one time they belonged to the union but the union was unable to secure and protect their jobs. These types pf unions have significantly damaged their membership and the economy of the United States.

            The F.O.P. is the Turtle in the group, quietly moving forward all the time.  Currently the F.O.P. is the largest single police organization in the United States and we are growing daily.   In Pennsylvania, the F.O.P is directly responsible for legislation such as Act 111 of 1968 that guaranteed all police officers in the state of Pennsylvania the right to negotiate contracts with their political employers for wages, benefits and working conditions.  The Teamsters have done nothing during their existence to promote any legislation to protect police officers or improve our lifestyle. I would ask all officers still on the job and those who are retired to speak with our younger brothers and sisters and tell them what it was like in the beginning twenty or thirty years ago.  Does anybody remember the fifties, sixties and early seventies when most starting wages were under $5,000 per year and you had to buy your own uniform? What are starting wages now?  Who helped the police when no one wanted to help them?  We banded together and helped each other like the family we are.  Our brotherhood has continued to grow and prosper. 

Teamsters unions, in a futile attempt to survive are raiding other organizations attempting to represent professionals not sanctioned in their original charters but in reality they are only looking for you dues money to survive.  They don’t raid other unions pursuant to an agreement that they have among themselves.   Like the American Bar Association for Attorney’s, the American Medical Association for Doctors, the Fraternal Order of Police for Police Officers our organization is for police officers and police officers only. As an organization your dues monies are spent on issues and lobbying efforts for legislation that directly affects and benefits police officers.

            As for the signatories on the Teamsters letter who allege membership in the F.O.P in Pennsylvania they have all violated their oath of membership by pursuing a course of conduct that attempts to fracture the solidarity of police officers.  The divide and conquer mentality of some our old employers and less than stellar chiefs didn’t work then it will not work now. This activity is not in the best interest of police officers, the profession or the F.O.P.  None of the signatories have attended F.O.P. meetings and have never involved themselves in promoting our profession but they did benefit from all the hard work of others who advanced our profession.  One in particular, Scott Harding, is still on the books as a member of the F.O.P. but is over $800.00 in the arrears with his dues.  Not even a fair share contribution to those who worked so diligently for police rights and working conditions.   I wonder how long the Teamsters would keep him on the books as a member if he didn’t pay his dues.

            Pennsylvania has many lodges but these men are or were members of County of Allegheny, Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 91. (Pittsburgh, PA). 

            I realize currently there are officers who have no choice but to belong to both the Teamsters and the Fraternal Order of Police.  As President of County of Allegheny, F.O.P. Lodge #91 I whole heartily intend to do everything in my power to remove those officers whose sole intentions are to increasing the membership of the Teamsters at the expense of their fellow officers.  The Teamsters in Pennsylvania have never sponsored or lobbied for one piece of legislation that would benefit the police profession.  Other than paying dues to the Teamsters they have done nothing for police officers that matches or exceeds what the F.O.P has done for its membership.  We see them at our conventions and other functions lobbing for our members but we have never seen them at the funerals of our fallen brothers and sisters, maybe because those of us who have given all no longer pay dues.

            It is time for all police officers to BAND TOGETHER as the brothers and sisters we are and stop this cancer that is attempting to invade our body.  I swear I will be pursuing a course of conduct to protect and serve all my brothers and sisters from this disease and to remove those who would cause us harm.

Fraternally,

Henry J. Wiehagen

Henry J. Wiehagen

President, County of Allegheny, Lodge #91

Fraternal Order of Police

CONTACT LODGE #91 AT 412-824-7780

or www.pafop91.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Police choose FOP over Teamsters

From the TRIBUNE-REVIEW, July 7, 2005

North Versailles police have decided on representation by the Fraternal Order of Police rather than the Teamsters.

The 14-8 vote last Tuesday means FOP Lodge 91 will negotiate for the department when the current contract expires at the end of the year, not Teamsters Local 205, which had represented the department for 12 years.

North Braddock police Chief Henry Wiehagen, who is president of FOP 91, said the vote is the product of a broader push by the group to consolidate its membership among Allegheny County's local police departments.

In the past, the FOP limited membership to full-time officers, Wiehagen said. The FOP now is offering to negotiate for part-timers, he said. The FOP represents more than 120 police departments in the region.

North Versailles has 18 full time officers and 7 part-time officers. Three part-time officers recently have been added to the force and weren't eligible to vote, said Sgt. Vincent DiCenzo, the FOP's North Versailles representative.

The FOP, which traditionally has left negotiating to individual departments, is beginning to handle negotiations for them, as it will for the North Versailles police force.

On top of that, Wiehagen said there was a fundamental difference between the FOP and the Teamsters.

"The Teamsters have no business representing police. I've never seen an 18-wheeler in a police procession," Wiehagen said, referring to the union's historic involvement with the trucking industry.

Carl Bailey, business agent for Local 205's law enforcement members and a former McKeesport police officer, said his union was well equipped to bargain for police.

"That's why I was hired away from my department, because the Teamsters want police to represent other police," Bailey said.

The local represents 44 police departments and corrections officers at the Washington and Clearfield County jails, Bailey said.

Bailey said the loss concerned him, but noted that his local won votes in South Park and Jefferson Hills police departments this year.

DiCenzo said the number one issue for the department's membership was health care. Police don't pay into health care under the current contract.

DiCenzo cited losses in arbitration in the last contract negotiations in 2001, like the elimination of shift minimums and reduction in compensation for court time, as areas of concern.

"Some of the issues we had brought up to the Teamsters weren't being addressed," said DiCenzo. "It was time to go back to the FOP."

Bailey said the department had received one of the largest raises in the region -- about 5 percent -- under the last contract negotiated with the Teamsters.

"I didn't want to lose them. I like the guys up there and I wish them luck," Bailey said.

FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM

All applications must be submitted to the committee chairman,

Floyd M. Nevling PRIOR JUNE 01,2005

Please contact your representative for Floyd M. Nevlings address.

Click here for the APPLICATION (PDF)

October 22, 2004

Michael Havens, President

Fort Pitt Lodge #1

Fraternal Order of Police

433 Fort Pitt Blvd.

Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Dear Michael,

    I Just spoke to Tim Richardson in the National Legislative Office (202) 547-8189.

    He advised that National discussed that they would like to use the Allegheny County Lodge for the November 1st meeting. This meeting will be a rally announcing the expansion of the Steve Young Law Enforcement Scholarship. Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao will be in attendance.

    Should you have difficulty, please contact Tim Richardson as soon as possible.

                                                            Sincerely

                                                            Mark Koch, President

                                                            Fraternal Order of Police

                                                            Pennsylvania State Lodge

cc:    G. Gratton

         H. Wiehagen

EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2004

FOP Merchandise will be ordered directly from Francis & Lusky

Orders may be placed by the Following methods:

Internet Orders:

http://www.grandlodgefop.org

Mail Orders:

Francis & Lusky, LLC.

FOP Merchandise Program

1450 Elm Hill Pike

Nashville, TN 37210

Fax Orders:

(615) 242-0503

Phone Orders:

1-800-251-3711

There has been a couple of By-Law changes

1.    Article XI - Dues -

Effective January 2004 the dues will be increased to $12.00 a month.

2.    Article XVI - Survivor Gift -

        Section 1.    Any active member who has been a member in good standing for a period of six (6) months shall be entitled to a death benefit of one thousand dollars ($1000.00), while working, and seven hundred ($700.00) upon retirement. Payable to their beneficiary on receipt of a death certificate.

GRAND LODGE

FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE

Joe Smith

Dear Joe,

On behalf of Brother Ken Rocks and myself, we are pleased to announce that you have been appointed to serve on the Legal Aid Committee.

The Chairman of your committee is Jerry Wright and he should be in contact with you to explain the mission of your committee.

I would like to thank you for your service and wish you great success during your term on this committee.

Fraternally yours,

Chuck Canterbury

National President

3rd ANNUAL SENATOR JOHN HEINZ

LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARDS DAY

November 03, 2003

    Lodge #91 President Henry J. Wiehagen was selected by the Amen Corner Awards Committee and recognized for his leadership abilities in directing the lodge. President Wiehagen has been in the forefront in establishing new programs such as the Scholarship Fund, increases survivors benefit and oppressing the Teamsters Unions attempt to lure police officers into their membership.

CONGRATULATIONS President Wiehagen for a well deserved recognition.

Lodge Secretary Richard Ford offers Congratulations to President Henry J. Wiehagen.

Lodge Officers in attendance at President Wiehagens Award ceremony.

Seated L-R - Paul Cmar - John Rybar - Frank Weber - Richard Ford.

Standing L-R - Vincent DiCenzo - Joseph Smith - Floyd Nevling

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