Lodge 14 has been extremely active on Capitol Hill over the years. During its early years, Representative Perry Buckner carried legislation to create more pay equity within the department.

RETIREMENT FUNDING WHEN AN OFFICER IS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY

When Lodge 14 discovered that Highway Patrol Officers were receiving compensation when they were injured in the line of duty and correction officers were not receiving this compensation FOP went to work. FOP passed legislation to bring equity between the two branches of the state’s law enforcement agencies and benefit their members injured in the line of duty. The result has been that if an officer is injured in the line of duty, that officer is compensated until such time as a return to work or retire without a loss of benefit in their retirement calculation.

EQUITABLE AND FAIR TREATMENT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES

In addition, when widespread in equities in the treatment of employees existed within the Department, it was Lodge 14 which calls for and received a legislative audit. That audit resulted in the reassignment of Executive Director of the Department of Corrections into another state agency. FOP asked other so-called employee organizations to join ranks in calling for the audit, however all declined claiming it was too risky of a move.

VOTE OF NO-CONFIDENCE

When it obvious, after a five-year tenure, that the new administration had failed in changing the culture, FOP took a vote of no-confidence in the Executive Director of the Department. The results of the vote were reported to the Governor’s office. Once again, FOP sought the assistance of other employee organizations in calling for the replace of the Executive Director. All of these organziations declined to join in Lodge 14’s efforts to end favoritism, nepotism and cronyism within the department. However, today, all these same organizations take credit for the change.

CURRENT ADMINISTRATION

In 2013, FOP worked with Governor Herbert’s administration to replace the Executive Director of the Department of Corrections with a new administrator who understood how to run a correctional department and effectuate positive change. The Governor appointed Rollin Cook as the new Director of the Department.

4% RETIREMENT BENEFIT

it was FOP who led the late legislative charge to change the retirement law in the state of Utah which was discriminatory towards law enforcement personnel. Until FOP change the law, retired officers received up to a 2 ½% cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment compared to other Utah state retired employees receiving of up to a 4% COLA.

CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION

With the 2014 legislative session commencing, please click the tab above entitled “2014 Session”, for what FOP is working on during this session.