Maryland’s Sheriffs meet once each month in different locations around the state to discuss law enforcement trends and practices and to compare notes designed to improve law enforcement efforts and to bolster communication between jurisdictions. Each year, the Great Mills Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 7 plays host to this gathering of Maryland’s elected sheriffs.
Lodge No. 7 of the Fraternal Order of Police has been honoring Maryland’s sheriffs since 1992, treating them to fresh steamed blue crabs, hotdogs, hamburgers and all the fixings. Margit Miller, FOP associate delegate and overall champion of policemen and policewomen everywhere said, “They love to come here once a year and enjoy the fresh crabs and corn.” Miller has been part of the effort since its very first year.
Lodge president, Frank Marquart, DFC, Ret., stated while grilling up burgers and dogs for the sheriffs that were still in their business meeting, that this function is one of only many that the lodge holds each year.
“We support a lot of charities and events,” said Marquart. “This is just one of them.” He went on to indicate that the lodge is supported by the community in which member law enforcement officers serve. “We could not exist if it wasn’t for the help of the community.”
Locally, the lodge supports efforts such as the “Shop with a Cop” program, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Hospice, the MD Torch Run and many local schools and school organizations. Marquart reiterated that the organization could not exist without the generosity of the community.
The Fraternal Order of Police has been working on behalf of police officers since two Pittsburgh patrol offices, fed up with the working conditions, decided to organize in 1915.
During the period, frequently police officers were forced to work 12-hour days, 365 days a year with no voice in their working environment. There were no unions or representation. Martin Toole and Delbert Nagle decided enough was enough and began to organize Pittsburgh police.
Because of the anti-union atmosphere at the time, they decided to call their organization the Fraternal Order of Police and called the first organization a “Lodge” to avoid the union stigma.
The effort of Toole and Nagle started a long-standing tradition of having police officers discussing working conditions and negotiating contracts for police officers.
Since that time, the organization has evolved into so much more. The nation’s FOP lodges work diligently to help law enforcement officers in the area of health and welfare and safety. In addition to the work to secure safe working conditions for police officers, the individual lodges strive to benefit the communities that support them.
After hosting the Sheriffs on Thursday, July 24, the lodge is involved in a fundraiser happening on Saturday, July 26, from 5 to 11 p.m. at the lodge headquarters. The pig roast fundraiser is dedicated to raising money for equipment for the local Emergency Services Team.
Miller said, “For only $25 anyone can come and eat and drink all the pig and beer they want for the evening.” The event will sport DJ Steve Simonds, who is a local Canine Officer. “He used to be Simond’s in the Morning at 104Z,” said Miller. That was long before becoming a St. Mary’s County deputy sher
