UFPO HISTORY:

   The International Union of Police Officers, Inc. historic rise began as the Federations of Police in 1934 as the Westchester County Police Conference, a primarily social organization of local PBA's that met once a month to socialize and to exchange information regarding salaries, working conditions, benefits and criminal activity in Westchester County, New York.

   In 1976, the Westchester County Police Conference membership served as the startup organizations of Tri-County Federation of Police, Inc. (TCF). TCF was a non-profit labor organization (now inactive) with membership of full-time municipal police officers in the New York counties of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess.

   Tri-County Federation of Police, Inc. provided their PBA members with a legal defense plan offering job-related services such as contract negotiations, defense of disciplinary actions and assistance with applications for disability pensions, as well as offering group welfare benefits such as disability insurance, life insurance, as well as dental and vision coverage.

   There was also a personal legal service plan offering individual members a discounted rate on personal, family and real estate matters. Unfortunately, several PBA's outside the TCF area, as well as other police and peace officers, expressed interest in joining the organization, but were unable to join due to a bylaw restricting membership.

   In 1980, New York State Federation of Police, Inc. (NYSFOP) was chartered as a non-profit labor organization with a membership field that included all full and part-time law enforcement officers as so defined in the Criminal Procedure Law of the State of New York, as well as police and peace officers established by other Federal and State statutes. This permitted the inclusion of district attorney investigators, correction officers, constables, federal agents, park police, and so forth. NYSFOP offers the same group and personal legal plan and welfare benefits, as TCF, to qualified active and retired employees throughout the state.

   In 1981, United Federation of Police Officers, Inc. (UFPO) was chartered as a national non-profit labor organization. UFPO membership is open to active and retired public sector employees of the United States Government and/or any state or local government employed in any capacity to provide for the orderly administration of justice or to promote the public health, safety and welfare. UFPO offers the same group and personal legal plan and welfare benefits, as NYSFOP.

   Ralph M. Purdy was elected the 1st President of the United Federation of Police Officers, Inc. and negotiated the first police contract in the state of New York under the Taylor Law. This contract was settled with the Town of Greenburgh as a result of mediation along with Town Supervisor Edward Vetrano and New York State Mediator Milton Friedman. The Public Employees Fair Employment Act (the Taylor Law) is a New York State statute, named after labor researcher George W. Taylor. It authorizes a governor-appointed State Public Employment Relations Board to resolve contract disputes for public employees while curtailing their right to strike. Moreover, 2017 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the The Public Employees Fair Employment Act, commonly known as "The Taylor Law" is a New York State statute and the law in many other states throughout the U.S.

   Ralph Purdy who along with Executive Vice President Robert Gordon were two of the original co-authors of the By Laws for the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA), AFL-CIO and a member of the International Conference of Police Associations, AFL-CIO and a member of the International Conference of Police Associations, Inc., the fore­runner of the IUPA. He would also serve as President of the United Federation of Special Police Officers & Security Officers, Inc., as well as International President of the United Federation of Police Officers, Inc., (UFPO).

   As President of the United Federation of Police Officers, Inc., Ralph Purdy donated the first $5,000 to Congressman Mario Biaggi, the Chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). Congressman Mario Biaggi was the original sponsor of the bill which introduced legislation in order to recognize those who gave the supreme sacrifice in the performance of their duties by building the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. This would serve as a permanent reminder of the federal legislation which was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy on October 1, 1962 designating every May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and these hollow grounds would serve as a permanent memorial to those killed in the line of duty.

   In 2016, the International Union of Public Employees (IUPE) merged with the United Federation of Police Officers, Inc. (UFP) and became the non-law enforcement civilian arm of the organization. In 2016, Ralph M Purdy announced he was not seeking re-election and further announced his support of former executive vice president Gerald J. Flynn, Jr. for the five year elected position of International President and International Executive Vice President Daniel P. Nulton and the International Secretary-Treasurer Sean R. McArdle.

   In 2005, Officer Flynn co-founded the New England Police Benevolent Association, Inc, serving as its Executive Director. In 2017, the New England PBA will celebrate its 12th year Anniversary and is the largest all exclusive law enforcement labor organization in New England. Officer Flynn retired from active duty as a member of the Lowell, MA Police Department in 2013 after nearly 33 years of law enforcement experience and was previously the National Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO), National Vice President of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) National Vice President of the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA), AFL-CIO as well as a National Vice President of the United Federation of Police Officers, Inc. (IUPA).

   On December 2016, Gerald J. Flynn, Jr. was elected the 2nd International President of the United Federation of Police Officers in its 35 year history.

   On January 1, 2017, Gerald J. Flynn, Jr. replaced retiring UFPO International President Ralph Purdy, and along with Executive Vice President Daniel P. Nulton and International Secretary-Treasurer Sean R. McArdle became the newly elected UFPO Executive Committee and immediately made Ralph M. Purdy the UFPO International President Emeritus.