Youth Camp!
Teaching the next generation about public service in a wide variety of areas.

Youth Sports Sponsorship
1. Sponsorship will be limited only to
organized athletic youth leagues/activities
(i.e. little league, biddy basketball, Pop
Warner football, soccer, etc.
2. Sponsorship shall be limited to athletic
programs for children up to the age of 13
years.
3. All requests for funds must be submitted by
the local lodge to the state lodge secretary
on the designated form (Application).


Indiana State FOP PAC
Member Representation
As you may know, the Rucklaw Firm has represented the Indiana FOP for many years. Within that firm, Leo Blackwell (our general counsel) and Ed Merchant are our legislative representatives at the statehouse. They are our “face” of law enforcement every day at the statehouse. Although your President and Vice President are often at the Statehouse and testify several times during each session. Leo and Ed are the ones that our elected Representatives and Senators speak to in all areas of law enforcement and who they go to with questions regarding current and proposed legislation.
During the 2018-2019 General Session at the statehouse your FOP was very successful with several proactive pieces of legislation that passed benefiting our members. For the first time since 1977, your pension benefits increased (if you are in the 77 INPERS fund). We were also successful in passing a “Police Officers Bill of Rights”, which provides protections for our officers across the state, and a Public Safety Officer Contract Negotiations Bill providing mandatory mediation in the event of an impasse. We were also able this session to increase the Line-of-Duty state death benefit from $150,000 to $225,000.
To be sure, the last session was one of the most productive in recent memory in terms of benefits and protections for law enforcement statewide. That’s the proactive benefit of having Rucklaw under contract with the state FOP for legislative services. It is also very important that we defend our existing benefits through the Rucklaw team. It isn’t unusual during each session to have legislation introduced that negatively impacts your pension, legislation that would alter your benefits negatively, legislation that could change your pension from a Defined Benefit Plan (where you know what your benefit will be when you decide to retire) to a Defined Contribution Plan (where you know what you’re paying into the plan but your benefit depends entirely on how the markets perform). We all know that the national trend is to change public pensions from defined benefit plans (like ours) to defined contribution plans.
Newer generations of officers are going to retire with likely LESS than you are due to this trend. Notwithstanding the retirement benefits, when legislation is introduces other benefits and protections that you have when injured on duty, injured off-duty, and even killed in the line of duty can be at risk. Our team at the statehouse has been able to successfully educate elected officials to the negative aspects of such proposed legislation. For many years, your FOP and our legislative team have been meeting with elected officials during the “off-season” in their home districts to educate them regarding any upcoming legislation that the FOP may be supporting, and any legislation that the FOP may be opposing, as well as our pension benefits and why they should be protected-not changed.
With all the anti-police rhetoric that is taking place we anticipate a rash of anti-police legislation and a push for police reform. Legislation that may or may not be rooted in the best interests of law enforcement or, quite frankly, the citizens which we serve. We have a top-notch team to argue the finer points of any proposed legislation and one of the top legislative teams in the country. To support those elected officials that write, introduce, and support our legislation takes money! We are not legally allowed to use dues money for such political action purposes. In order to support our friends and defeat our enemies we need your help. Your voluntary contributions are needed to fund our PAC so that we can fight the good fight for our members. So, there it is. This letter is asking for you to voluntarily fund our PAC. We need your help and we need it each and every year. We need your help to continue to do the things I have described and to continue to fight for our members at the statehouse.
Legal Defense for our members
- Twenty-four hour access to LDF attorneys for critical incidents.
- Call out procedures for critical incidents including police action shootings, in custody deaths, and serious accidents where a fatality has or may occur. A member may call or page a plan attorney who will provide telephone consultation and if necessary, travel to the scene of the critical incident.
- Legal counsel and representation to appeal the decision, when permitted by law, of any disciplinary board established under statute, local ordinance, administrative rule or contract to the circuit or superior court in the county where the disciplinary decision was rendered. However, the LDF attorney shall have sole authority to determine whether the appeal has merit. If the LDF attorney determines that the appeal does not have merit, the member may obtain another attorney at his/her own expense to pursue an appeal.
- Legal counsel and representation to appeal the decision of the county circuit or superior court to the Indiana Court of Appeals and/or Indiana Supreme Court. However, the LDF attorney shall have sole authority to determine whether the appeal has merit. If the LDF attorney determines that the appeal does not have merit, the member may obtain another attorney at his/her own expense to pursue an appeal.
- Legal counsel and representation commencing at the third stage or equivalent of the disciplinary hearing procedure for a university police officer.
- Legal counsel and representation if you are charged with a criminal offense in a state or federal court. An LDF attorney will provide representation and/or coordinate representation for the charged officer.
- The LDF is available to any member of the law enforcement community, including police officers, correction officers, reserve police officers and support personnel directly involved with law enforcement. In order to be a member of the LDF, a person must be a member in good standing of an Indiana F.O.P. Lodge through active or associate membership.
- Enrollment in the LDF Program is easy. Simply visit INSTATEFOP.ORG and apply online, or mail the completed enrollment card and payment to: Legal Defense Fund, 1427 E. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46201
- Legal counsel and representation prior to and during a disciplinary hearing before any disciplinary board established under Indiana statute, local ordinance, administrative rule or contract.
- Legal counsel/advice if you are sued in state or federal court. An LDF attorney will cooperate with your governmental agency attorney to ensure your official conduct interests are protected.
- Legal counsel/advice if you are under investigation by your department.
- Legal counsel/advice if you are under investigation by local, state, or federal authorities.
- Salary Reimbursement Option (SRO): For suspensions where an appeal to a disciplinary board is permitted and still available, and where a plan attorney advises that an appeal has no merit, a member may choose to receive the equivalent of up to three (3) days actual loss of pass or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00) from the Fund, whichever is less. Call a plan attorney immediately upon suspension for details. Limited to one (1) SRO benefit per member per enrollment year.
- All Benefits, as detailed above, are provided and covered only for acts or omissions occurring while on duty, performing a duty related act, or while acting in the scope of the member’s authority as a police officer. Conduct occurring while off duty and outside the scope of the member’s authority as a police officer shall only be eligible for legal counsel and representation prior to and during administrative disciplinary hearings.