POLICE ASSOCIATIONS & CHARITIES

The Italian American Police Association began in 1963, when a group of 12 police officers saw a need for a fraternal organization, which embraced all law enforcement officers of Italian heritage in the State of Illinois. With this as its purpose, a charter was secured, by-laws adopted and today an association of over 500 members, who are employed as law enforcement officers. All are of Italian origin and have dedicated themselves to fulfilling the mission statement.

The mission of the Italian American Police Association of Illinois is to promote friendship, cooperation, and unified and concerted action among its members for their common benefit; to further the preservation of, and adherence to, the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Illinois; to uphold and enforce federal, state, and municipal laws; to promote education, training, and the exchange of knowledge and information in the field of law enforcement; and to oppose discrimination and prejudice against all people.

The Latin American Police Association was first organized in the fall of 1961 with a total membership of 21 members.

At that time there was only a handful of Hispanics on the Chicago Police Department. This was due in part to subtle discrimination, such as the imposition of a minimum height requirement, as well as overt discrimination, which has historically excluded the ‘first wave’ of most immigrant groups. Another impediment was the fact that most police agencies in Hispanic countries were notoriously corrupt and this distrust of the police lingered after the immigrant’s arrival.

LAPA has the distinction of being the first ethnic law enforcement group within the city of Chicago and Cook County, Illinois. The main goals of the organization were to promote police/community relations, the recruitment of Hispanic police candidates, and the promotion of incumbent Hispanic police officers. After fifty years of labor, these continue to be LAPA’s main goals. As LAPA’s membership grew, these efforts expanded to include the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, suburban police departments, and Federal law enforcement agencies.

Along with legal and political action, LAPA has attempted to increase our representation by conducting tutorial classes for both Chicago Police Department and Cook County Sheriff candidates. This was achieved in part due to the excellent cooperation of the Chicago City-wide Colleges. We also hold tutorial classes for Police and Sheriff’s personnel seeking promotion. All of our classes are open to any interested party, regardless of her/his ethnic background.

As LAPA approaches its sixtieth anniversary, we aspire to serve as role models to our youth, promote strong police/community relations, and improve our professionalism. We hope to achieve these goals in part through the continued support of various police agencies and fellow fraternal organizations.

LAPA is a fraternal organization created to assist Hispanics in the field of law enforcement. The membership of LAPA is comprised of any person of Hispanic descent, in whole or in part, who is a sworn member in good standing of any law enforcement agency in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area.

The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) was founded in September, 1976, during a three-day symposium to address crime in urban low income areas. The symposium was co-sponsored by the Police Foundation and the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA).

The Joint Center for Political Studies (JCPS) coordinated this unprecedented event in which sixty (60) top-ranking black law enforcement executives representing twenty-four (24) states and fifty-five (55) major cities gathered in the Washington, D.C. area to participate.

They exchanged views about the critically high rate of crime in black urban communities and the socioeconomic conditions that lead to crime and violence. They raised questions about relevant issues such as fairness in the administration of justice, police community relations, the hiring and promotion of black police officers, and the unique problems of the black police executive.

Founded in 1999, the Pipes and Drums of the Chicago Police Department is fraternal organization focused on fostering the traditions and respect garnered through playing the great highland bagpipe and Scottish drum. Our mission is simple: to always be in service to our comrades, their families and friends in their time of need. We have been privileged to participate in honors ceremonies of our own fallen heroes as well as Peace Officers and Firefighters across our Nation. We can NEVER FORGET their sacrifice.

The Puerto Rican Police Association (PRPA) is a local association of law enforcement officers who are united in an effort to organize officers of Puerto Rican descent. Our goal is to develop, promote and encourage a greater understanding and cooperation between the Hispanic community, the Chicago Police Department, and all other law enforcement agencies. We also pledge to promote, encourage and develop a higher degree of professionalism, advancement and education among Puerto Rican Police Officers.

PRPA is also united in the protection of the community, but also to give back to it in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling to its members. For more than 20 years, the men and women of the PRPA have supported the mission Esperanza by brightening the holidays of our students. Every December, the officers organize a visit from Santa Claus, who arrives bearing gifts and cheer for all! For the students Esperanza serves, many of whom are from low-income families, this visit from jolly St. Nick is especially meaningful.

The Scandinavian American Police and Fire Association of Illinois, is a 501(C)(3) Not-for-Profit Fraternal Organization. Our Organization’s main goal as a First Responder Fraternal Organization is to promote goodwill and fellowship to our members and their families through cultural and social Scandinavian themes and functions. Other goals of our organization include, but are not limited to, fundraising to support families of fallen first responders who have given the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Since our organization’s inception, we have represented our organization as an exclusively Fraternal Police Society. As of January 1, 2013 all First Responders are eligible to join our ranks! The Hundred Club of Chicago will be one of the main benefactors of our organization’s future fundraising events! The Hundred Club of Chicago is well known for it’s commitment to providing support for surviving spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and paramedics who lose their lives in the line of duty. This includes all federal, state, county and local officers, firefighters and paramedics stationed in Cook County.

Charter Members: President Craig Ford, Vice President Steve Olsen, Treasurer David Appel, Secretary Michael Bergeson, Sgt. at Arms Craig Roberts.

The organization was known as The Son’s of Norway established 2006, then became The Norwegian American Police Association 2007. The Scandinavian American Police Association of Illinois was established in 2008 so that all police officers with Scandinavian Heritage were able to join our organization. The Scandinavian American Police and Fire Association of Illinois enables all first responders, and their family members with Scandinavian Heritage, the opportunity to join our organization.

The Saint Jude Police League was established in 1932 as an active sponsor of charities and to support Chicago officers. During the 1950’s, the League initiated one of the Chicago Police Department’s finest traditions: the annual march held on the first Sunday of May to honor the memory of every honorable police officer who ever served, and particularly those who died in the performance of duty.