Baltimore County Lodge No. 4, F.O.P., was founded by 32 sworn members of the Baltimore County Police Department and chartered on December 3, 1970. The Lodge was incorporated within the State of Maryland on June 28, 1971.
Our first interim officers were President: David L. Wolf, Secretary: Mary Price and Treasurer: Walter J. Guraleczka. Bro. Guraleczka continued to serve as our Treasurer until December, 1987.
Over the ensuing years, the Lodge has fought for many benefit improvements for our members in our 37-year history. One of the biggest milestones for the Lodge and the membership was the passage of the Baltimore County Collective Bargaining Bill which was signed into law in 1977. Behind-the-scenes work to accomplish this goal occurred during the administrations of President E.O. Scott, Jr., and President A. Joseph Davis, Jr. Shortly thereafter the Lodge became the recognized (and only) bargaining agent for all Baltimore County police officers through the rank of lieutenant.
Another milestone was the change in language in the pension law which now allows sworn police officers to retire after twenty years of honorable service. This change also eliminated the age requirement that accompanied the previous 30-year service retirement plan that had been in effect since October 12, 1959. These changes occurred during the mid-to-late 80's under the administrations of President Kenneth E. Mullaney and President George H, Hokemeyer, Bro, Hokemeyer also served as Maryland National Trustee to the Grand Lodge (1989-91).
As the membership grew, the Lodge purchased its first permanent home on January 14, 1983 under the administration of President Raymond C. Ewing who had recently succeeded President Marc 0. Fiedler. This building located at 9304 Harford Road, Carney, MD, was dedicated on November 4, 1984 and served the membership for 14 years.
The current new Lodge building was built on the rear of the same site under the administration of Immediate Past President L. Timothy Caslin. Construction began on November 13, 1997 with the new facility opening for business on April 28, 1998, culminating with demolition of the "old blue house."
Successful efforts by the administration of current President Cole B. Weston, included a joint campaign with Baltimore County Fire Fighters Local 1311 which secured Binding Arbitration and the member benefits it provides thought the approval of a referendum question which Baltimore County voters overwhelmingly approved in November, 2002.
Baltimore County Lodge No. 4 has grown from the original 32 "charter" members in 1970 to 2,730 "active" and "retired" members as of November 30, 2007. The Lodge is part of the Grand Lodge, F.O.P., (founded on September 14, 1915) composed of more than 324,000 members in more than 2,100 local lodges throughout the United States, Canada and Ireland, and also the Maryland State Lodge, Inc., (founded on November 8, 1967) composed of 19,000 members in 68 local lodges throughout the 23 counties of Maryland and Baltimore City.
Baltimore County Lodge No. 4 salutes all of the police officers who have faithfully served the people of Baltimore County since 1874.
LODGE No. 4 PRESIDENTS:
David L. Wolf (Interim) – December, 1970 – April, 1971 (Deceased – January 9, 1992)
Joseph J. Corrigan – April, 1971 – April, 1973 (Deceased – January 26, 1999)
Jerome T. Ortt – April, 1973 – April, 1974 (Deceased - October 6, 1987)
Bruce J. Pfarr – April, 1974 – November, 1974
Eston “E.O.” Scott – November, 1974 – April, 1977
Alpha J. “Joe” Davis, Jr. – April, 1977 – April, 1979
Marc O. Fiedler – April, 1979 – December, 1982
Raymond J. Ewing – December, 1982 – April, 1983
Kenneth E. Mullaney – April, 1983 – December, 1987
George H. Hokemeyer – December, 1987 – December, 1991
L. Timothy Caslin – December, 1991 – December, 1999
Cole B. Weston – December, 1999 – Present
Prepared by: Lawrence R. (Larry) Sibley, Lodge Secretary (1977-1987)
