FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE TO HOLD EVENT ON SATURDAY

The local lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police will hold a luncheon for area law enforcement officers Saturday to provide information about the organization.

The event is being held in conjunction with the quarterly meeting of the state board and will feature remarks by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon.

Nixon, after serving six years in the Missouri Senate from Jefferson County, was elected attorney general on Nov. 3 and assumed his duties Jan. 11.

He will discuss some of his plans for the attorney general's office and answer questions from officers.

An open forum will be held at 2 p.m. to discuss issues concerning the law enforcement profession.

The luncheon will start at noon at the Holiday Inn.

Charles Herbst, president of the local lodge number 33, said the group hopes to make this an annual appreciation event for law enforcement officers in the Cape Girardeau area.

The local lodge currently has 56 members, from Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott, Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties. It was organized about two years ago.

Herbst explained the primary purpose of the lodge is to serve as a social organization on the state and federal level to promote law enforcement as a career and profession. The state lodge also has a lobbyist in the legislature to promote bills for crime victims' rights, a bill of rights for policemen and extended training.

As a local group, the Fraternal Order of Police has been working with the Cape Jaycees to replenish the vest fund, to help smaller departments in the area acquire bullet proof vests. The group has also worked with Easter Seals and has assisted with the local chapter of the American Cancer Society's "Jail and Bail" fund-raising program.