New police lodge holds first meeting

Law enforcement officers from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Marianna Police Department gathered Thursday to hold the first meeting of the newest lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Chipola Lodge No. 167 was chartered in February by the Florida Fraternal Order of Police. According to a news release from the lodge, 10 officers from the sheriff’s office, police department and Florida Highway Patrol petitioned the state organization for the charter. The inaugural meeting Thursday discussed the lodge’s mission in Jackson County and set meeting times and dates for the future. Both Sheriff Lou Roberts and Chief Hayes Baggett are among the lodge’s first members.
It is the second FOP lodge in Jackson County; the Three Rivers Lodge has been located in Sneads for several years. Membership in the Chipola Lodge is open to any active or retired law enforcement officer in Jackson County. For more information, call Rusty Booth at 557-1958.