Membership

Who can Join

Who is eligible to join?

• Any active law enforcement officer residing or assigned in Polk County Florida.
• Any officer who has retired or is eligible to retire and left their agency in good standing.

What is the process?

• Fill out an application available on the website, the lodge or from a member.
• Submit the application to the lodge secretary. You will be voted on at the next scheduled meeting.

Meetings are held on the first Monday of the month, at the lodge. Dinner is served at 6:30 PM and the meeting starts at 7:15 PM.

• Pay the dues. Two options are available. Pay by check or by payroll deduction if at the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
• Mail completed application, together with a check for the dues (currently $91.00 a year,) to P.O. Box 5295, Lakeland, FL 33807-5295, Attn: Lodge Secretary, or bring it with you to our next meeting.
• To download an application in Word format, click on the left link below.  For an application in PDF format, click on the right link below.
• To view the By-laws, click on the appropriate link.

Downloadable Documents - Click to download

Membership Application - Word Format ByLaws - Word Format

Membership Application - PDF ByLaws - PDF

Member Benefits

• Up to $2500.00 cash death benefit. Paid to the member’s designee quickly.
• Legislative representation. The F.O.P. has been very successful in Tallahassee in enhancing law enforcement officer benefits and rights.
• Lodge sponsorship of area youth sport teams.
• Use of 2000 sq ft lodge hall for nominal fee to cover utilities and cleaning.
• Monthly meetings with meals, as well as, other lodge sponsored events through the year.
• Lodge sponsored annual law enforcement memorial service and luncheon.
• Line of duty death benefit.
• Access to legal defense plans from the national and state F.O.P. lodges.
• Lodge, District (Tampa Bay Area Lodges) and State Scholarship Programs.
• Member discounts for a variety of goods and services.
• Monthly newsletter.  

Lodge Officers

John Sheffield Robert Lattig           Darlene Miller-Thompson Ken Gosline Bill Carew Lanny Sheffield Donna Suereth Lynn Dombrowsky Randy Mullins Pat Blanchette Linda Johnson Ken Johnson      David Shiver Rick Sopka

President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Secretary Treasurer Conductor Chaplain State Trustee Guard Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee Trustee

(Probation Office, DOC) (Retired DOC) (Officer LPD) (Retired PCSO & Amityville Police Dept) (Retired LPD) (Retired PCSO) (FDLE) (Retired PCSO) (Retired, Florida Fish & Game) (LPD) (Retired PCSO) (Retired DOC) (LPD) (Retired DOC)

Past Presidents:

Mike Butler Ed Kite Craig Smith Bill Carew David Waller Chris Skinner

(Retired, Lakeland Police Department) (Charter President) (Sergeant, Polk County Sheriff's Office) (Captain, Polk County Sheriff's Office) (Retired, Lakeland Police Department) (Special Agent Supervisor, Florida Department of Law Enforcement) (Officer, Lakeland Police Department)