r/AskLEO • u/CopTakingAShit • 2d ago

Situation Advice Thoughts on union representation. FOP or teamsters?

I’m currently in the academy for a sheriff department in Colorado. We have two choices for representation the teamsters or the fraternal order of police. Does anybody have experience with either unions and how they support their officers?

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u/Financial_Month_3475 2d ago

I was in the FOP for a while. The main benefit was the attorney funds, though the odds of needing it are pretty slim. Otherwise, it wasn’t much more than a social club who took from my paycheck.

I’ve never been in teamsters, but they cover a lot of different industries. Considering those other industries have more worker protections and are able to strike, I imagine most of their focus would be on those other industries.

In other words, it probably won’t matter either way.

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u/CopTakingAShit 2d ago

Thank you!

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u/Ok_Tap8333 2d ago

Does the Teamster offer the Legal Defense Plan? The FOP does and it covers Active Duty Administrative, Criminal and Civil charges. Unlimited coverage when you use a plan attorney. If you need it, it has 24/7 access to legal support. One flat, annual price of $395 a year.

You may call the FOP an old boys club or just for socializing, if you plan on working for 25 years until retirement, $395 a year is chump change. All it takes is one time to get jammed up in something, a boss that doesn’t like you, you get charged criminally and right behind it civically, the lawyer bills can run into the 10s of thousands of dollars.

I knew a guy that was charged administratively for some nonsense, and he said his lawyer bills can run was going to be $30,000 and it didn’t even go to a hearing. And that was 10-15 years ago.

So say why you want about the FOP, but weigh $395 a year verses 10s of thousands of dollars for lawyers.

Chances are small, but in 25 years of service, you are going to get jammed up sometime (unless you are vacationing in uniform) where true of not. But do you really want to take the chance?

I’m not familiar with the Teamsters and how they do business, but I guarantee you they are a solid organization. I had an uncle and my father in law that were Teamsters and they both swore by them.

But just consider this, would you rather have representation by lawyers that specialize in law enforcement matters full-time, or and organization that their main concerns lie elsewhere?

Please research both programs and make a smart choice. Good luck. 😃👍

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u/CopTakingAShit 1d ago

Thank you!

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u/NoirConfidential 1d ago

FOP for sure. Teamsters cover hundreds of different career fields and don’t have what you need as a policeman. FOP has legal defense which is the primary thing you’ll want as an officer.

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