FOP 997 Home

Our lodge is open to all active and retired law enforcement and non-enforcement Associate members. Please join the lodge if you've served &/or wanted to serve in any law enforcement agency, or if you were never on the job & just want to uphold justice in your own way...! Click here to read about a Good Man.

MEMBER PACKAGE
The FOP 997 Record Rumors Newsletter with the member cards & photo ID (if ordered) have been mailed. If you did not receive your (paid) member package please email info@fop997.org - The Executive Board.

PS it's not too late to join! Simply click here http://fop997.org/app/ for the member application. Active, Retired, Non-Law Enforcement/Civilian - ALL are welcome!

DEATH REPORTED
It is with great sadness I must report the passing of Marilyn Verde, beloved wife of FOP 997 Member & original Webmaster Rich Verde. Our condolences to Rich & the Verde family. The Executive Board

The date for submission of applications for the NYS FOP Scholarship Program has been moved up from that of previous years. Entries for the Scholarship Program MUST be received by the State no later than Friday, March 2nd, 2012. Members with eligible children who intend to apply for the program are advised to submit your application in a timely fashion. For more information and an application please visit the State web site at nysfop.org, and click on the "FORMS" link on the left side of the page. Don't delay - and Good Luck. The Executive Board.

State FOP Zone #5 VP Bill Connor and Beacon Benefits Services invite Zone #5 members (our lodge is in Zone #5), associate members and family and friends to a day of education and enrollment on Saturday, January 21st, 2012, from 1030-1600 hrs. They will provide information on the following subjects:

Come to learn, enroll, and socialize. Refreshments, free gifts, and free raffles will be provided. Lodge members are urged to take advantage of this seminar. If you have any questions regarding benefits provided by the State FOP, this is the time and place to get your answers.

SBA Luncheon Notification
A message to all members of Sergeants Benevolent Association: Due to the tragic death of Police Officer Peter Figoski of the 75th Pct., the Sergeants Delegate Meeting and luncheon has been rescheduled to Wednesday, Dec. 21st at Russo’s on the Bay.

You can really join anytime but we prefer you join within our "renewal period" to help in processing the new & renewal memberships. With over 600 members & a volunteer board we appreciate it. No worries if you missed the deadline, we'll get you signed up!

YAHOO GROUP EMAILS To stay up-to-date with timely news & info, join our yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FOP997/join. We don't bomb you with Spam - health & welfare news, events & other FOP related emails only! :) Try it - you can always opt-out.

NYPD Actively Retired Now Open!!!
NYPD, Housing & Transit retirees may now sign up online here.

Photo Album
The photo album is off line at this time. Please check back soon. Take a look - there are already over 600 great photos! Please send and email to us if you have photos that can be added. We'll scan the photos and send them back to you so they don't have to be digital photos. Every photo is important and appreciated. Let's build a photo record (past & present) for all to share and enjoy!

New Years Wish
When a good man leaves “the job” and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder. We wonder if he [she] knows what they are leaving behind, because we already know. We know for example that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know in the law enforcement life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his frame. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and, in his heart, still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the law enforcement world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for one moment you are escaping from the life. You are only escaping “the job” and we are merely allowing you to leave “active” duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God,” and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

***** Important Links On This Website *****

Click here for FAQs of Membership (benefit information, etc.)
Click here for a Membership Application (join our organization)
Please register at the FOP 997 Yahoo Group to join the Health & Welfare Rapid Notification email list (new Roll Call)

The various features on the Lycos Site's Guest Book are available on via out Yahoo Group site and the Forums on this site - just click the links above. We will work to move all the pictures and other information from those sites to our new site here ASAP. Thanks for using this site and check back often. The original site remains archived offline. The Lycos Guest Book can be accessed here.

***** PO Vito Chiaramonte's Killer is Still At-Large Help Find a Cop Killer click here *****

Photos of PO Vito Chiaramonte's funeral can be viewed online
when the photo albums are restored.
May he rest in peace.

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Executive Board Message

Welcome to the website of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 997. We started the New York City Housing Police Fraternal Order of Police Lodge because after the merge with the NYPD we realized that we were starting to lose contact with many of our old friends from "the job". Before the merge, whether we were still on "the job" or retired, we could meet at SOA, PBA or society functions; however, those days were now over. We wanted to do something to provide a venue for us to continue to meet, and at the same time, be able to offer our friends something that they could not get elsewhere. The camaraderie and feeling of family that we all shared as Housing Cops. Well, here we are.

We are one of the fastest growing lodges in NY State with over 500 members, both active and retired, residing in 20 states. We are committed to preserving the history and the legacy of the NYC Housing Police Department.

This site was created to allow you an alternative way to meet with and contact your former colleagues, make new friends, participate in our next luncheon, barbecue, boat ride or one of our many other social events. We will post meeting updates, contact information and photos on a regular basis.

The links on the side navigation bar and buttons at the top will take you to the various areas of this site and a links page to other sites.

Remember, we are still "Second to None". For a Membership Application, click here.

Our prayers go out to all the families of those missing and deceased, civilian and uniformed personnel alike who suffered in the WTC disaster. In an effort to assist the families of the uniformed personnel, the NYS FOP has started a WTC Police Disaster Relief fund. The information for donations can be found on the NYS FOP web site at NYSFOP.org. Our Lodge was the first Lodge to make a donation to the fund. In addition, the Grand Lodge of the FOP (the National) has provided a link on their web site to the NY site. Donations from FOP Lodges across the country have been pouring in - we are truly a brotherhood.

As one of our Members says when he ends his e-mails - STAY PROUD AND BE SAFE!!!!

Fraternally,

The 2010-2012 Lodge Executive Board
President - Robert Nero
1st Vice President – Zachary Slavin
2nd Vice President - Bruce Raheb
Secretary & NYS Trustee - Pasquale Cirincione
Treasurer - Laura Shechter
Recording Secretary - Pat Flatley
Director - James Ross
Director - Henry Lavan
Director - Gordon Nash
Director – Nicholas Capezza
Immediate Past President - Andrew Melillo
Web Master - Zachary Slavin
Membership Chairperson - Moe Leon
Special Advisor - Gilbert Prince
Counsel - Barton Slavin, Esq.
Chaplain - Rabbi Leonard Blank
Chaplain - Msgr. Nicholas Sivillo