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New York City Housing Police Silver & Gold Lodge #997

News & Announcements

Delegate/Lodge Trustee Election — General Membership Meeting

General Membership meeting Thursday, August 13th at 12:30 PM at VFW Post #1896, Queens — election of conference delegates, alternates, and Lodge Trustee. Nomination letters due Monday, August 10th.

Brothers and Sisters, the New York State Fraternal Order of Police will hold its 20th State Conference from October 18th through October 20th, 2026, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in Albany, NY. At the Conference we will elect our State FOP Executive Board who will lead us for the next four years. In addition, at the Conference, we will elect our Zone Vice President and our Lodge Trustee who will represent us on the State Board.

Based on the size of our Lodge we are entitled to nine (9) delegates and two (2) alternate delegates. In order to elect our delegates, alternates, and Lodge Trustee we have scheduled a General Membership meeting for Thursday, August 13th, at 12:30 PM, at the VFW Post #1896 Meeting Hall, located at:

VFW Post #1896 Meeting Hall
110-02 Merrick Blvd
Queens, NY 11433
(the corner of 110th Ave (also known as Brinkerhoff Ave – and Merrick Blvd.).

In order to provide our membership with the greatest opportunity to seek one of the delegate positions or the Lodge Trustee position, requests for nominations will be taken directly from the floor at the meeting. However, if you cannot attend the meeting but wish to be considered for a position, you may submit a letter naming the position sought in lieu of personally appearing at the meeting. The letter should be sent to:

Pat Cirincione, Lodge Secretary
5 Rita Crescent
Commack, NY 11725

All such letters must be received by Monday, August 10th, 2026. Any ACTIVE Member, who has been a member of our Lodge for at least 6 months is eligible to run for a position.

After the election is held and our delegates/alternates are elected, Secretary Cirincione will provide lodging accommodation information and the Conference schedule.

This is your opportunity to become part of the decision making process in our Lodge. Come to the meeting and let your voice be heard. As usual, refreshments will be served. Frat. Pat

Death of Relative Reported

It is our sad duty to report that President Dewey Fong's mother, Lai Y. Fong, passed away on June 27, 2026.

Brothers & Sisters, it is our sad duty to report that our President Dewey Fong's Mother, Lai Y. Fong, passed away early Saturday morning June 27th, 2026, in the old Coney Island Hospital facility. Mrs. Fong was 98 years of age.

The wake for Mrs. Fong was held on Monday, July 6th, 2026, at the Ng Fook Funeral Home, 36 Mulberry St., NY, NY, with services on Tuesday, July 7th, 2026, and burial at Calverton National Cemetery, 210 Princeton Blvd, Calverton, NY.

In lieu of flowers the Fong family requests that donations can be made to the Celestial Love Foundation OR to FOP Lodge 997, 5 Rita Crescent, Commack, NY 11725. Note in the memo section of your check that the donation is in memory of Lai Y. Fong.

Please keep Mrs. Fong, Dewey, and the entire Fong family in your thoughts and prayers.

MAY MADAM LAI Y. FONG REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.
The Executive Board.

Very Important Information — Renewals, Costco, ID Cards

Membership renewal, Costco membership, Department ID, and FOP ID card instructions.

Click the links to view the forms & instructions:

  1. The new member & renewals are processed thru our lodge & forwarded to the State. The State then sends all the lodge memberships to the National to be added to the roles. This has hard deadlines because it's allot of work which must be submitted without fail. Renewal notice (image). PLEASE COMPLETE & SUBMIT THE MEMBERSHIP FORM WITHOUT DELAY!!!
  2. Costco membership instructions — view instructions (image).
  3. New procedure to RENEW your Department ID — view instructions (image).
  4. After you have renewed on time and wish to renew your FOP ID card, you can send your application and payment DIRECTLY TO THE STATE FOP at this time. Visit our FOP Photo IDs page for more info. Fraternally, Pat Cirincione, Lodge Secretary.

NYS FOP Scholarship & Forms

NYS FOP scholarship, identification card, DMV plate, BJs, and other member forms.

The NYS FOP Scholarship application, the NYS FOP Identification Card Instructions & Forms, and NYS DMV Auto & Motorcycle License Plates / BJs Application and others are online at nysfop.org — Member Benefits Forms.

FOP 997 Legal Counsel — Free Consultation for Members!

Lodge members may contact Barton Slavin, Esq. for a free, no-obligation analysis.

Mr. Slavin provides his counsel free to our Lodge & we are grateful for his guidance & service. If you're seeking legal advice please call our legal counsel Barton Slavin, Esq. at 212-233-1010 for a free, no obligation analysis of your situation including Real Estate (sell/buy), Personal Injury, Wills, Healthcare Proxy, Divorce, Traffic/Criminal Defense & all other matters. You can view his website at nycattorneys.com.

More — historic news & member info

HR 218 (LEOSA) Reference Documents
  • HR 218 FAQ (PDF)
  • HR 218 is the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA), 18 U.S.C. § 926B–926C, available from official government sources. See also our LEOSA Travel page.

We're on Facebook

NYC Housing Police Silver & Gold FOP 997 is on Facebook — please like us at facebook.com/groups/fop997.

Reading Corner
  • History of the Housing Police: Fritz Umbach's history of the HAPD from Rutgers University Press, available on Amazon. Commissions from this link go to our Lodge.
  • Great Story: Former beat cop Anthony Mango inspires kid from Bronx housing project to join NYPD decades later.
  • A Good Read: Associate member Matt Caldwell (West Point graduate and Iraq vet) has written a book about his father Bill Caldwell, the former president of our SOA. It's titled Wild Bill, The Legend of America's Craziest Father. If you know Bill, it's hilarious and even if you don't it's a very funny read.

New Years Wish

When a good man leaves “the job” and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder. We wonder if he [she] knows what they are leaving behind, because we already know. We know for example that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know in the law enforcement life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his frame. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and, in his heart, still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the law enforcement world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for one moment you are escaping from the life. You are only escaping “the job” and we are merely allowing you to leave “active” duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God,” and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

Happy New Year..!
Bob Agnetti