My name is Adam Tarrant and I am the President of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #51.  We currently have approximately 170 members comprised of law enforcement officers from all over East Texas.  We have regular monthly meetings on the second Saturday of each month at 6:30 pm at the lodge.  Our lodge is located on Old Noonday Road, just outside the Loop off Highway 155 South in Tyler, Texas. 

            We are very proud of our accomplishments.  Just in the past two years, the lodge sent four members to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C. for police week.  The lodge also sent several members to a drug interdiction school and the Calibre Press Street Survival School for valuable training.  In addition, the lodge sent eight delegates to the Fraternal Order of Police National Conference that was held in Louisville, Kentucky.

             Each year, the lodge gives out several scholarships to the children of our members who have done well in high school and are about to enter college.  Also, the lodge contributed to the Bair Foundation, who purchases bicycles for underprivileged children for Christmas.  I am also very proud to say that the most important thing our lodge does is support the families of our fallen Officer's who are killed in the line of duty. 

              There are two ways to join our lodge. The first way is to come to a meeting and tell the members who are present a little about yourself, who you work for and your future goals.  The second way to join, if you can't make the meeting, is to type up a short letter telling us about yourself, who you work for and your future goals.  You can either email the letter to me, or mail it to F.O.P. Lodge #51, PO Box 6128, Tyler, Texas 75711.  After your letter is received, the members will vote at the next scheduled meeting.  Once your are voted in, you will be added to the local, state and national rosters as a member with the Fraternal Order of Police.  The national roster is over 325,000 members strong.

              The dues associated with membership is $13.50 per month without legal coverage.  Most members have legal coverage which gives you peace of mind.  The legal coverage is used when a member is sued due to an incident that occurs while they are performing their job duties.  Also, the legal coverage would be beneficial if a member should get falsely disciplined by the agency they are employed with.  Membership with legal coverage is $30.00 per month.  Probably 85% of our members choose this option.  The dues can be paid each month by mailing them to the F.O.P. PO Box or by paying them in person at the monthly meetings. 

               I hope this letter answers some of your questions related to the Fraternal Order of Police.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at 903-360-8290 or email me at atarrant@tylertexas.com. 

Fraternally,