Emerald Society Dates in History

1953- The first official emerald society was established by the members of the New York Police Department. First President Henry J. Fitzgerald (3/16/1953). Joined National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald Societies (NCLEES) on 1/30/96-Chapter #20.

1955-First official Correction Officers Emerald Society formed- New York City Correction Emerald Society. First President James Mulvey. (11/17/55). Joined NCLEES on 5/7/1996-Chapter 25.

1956-First official Fire Emerald Society formed: New York City Fire Department Emerald Society. First President Eugene O’Kane.

1958-First official combined Police and Fire emerald society formed in New Jersey. Essex County Police & Fire Emerald Society (6/1/1958). Joined NCLEES on 1/24/1996-Chapter #16.

1958- First Non-Public Safety Emerald Society formed. The New York City Housing Employees Emerald Society.

1960-The first official Police Pipe Band formed in the United States. The Pipes & Drums of the Emerald Society of the New York Police Department.

1962- The first official Fire Pipe Band formed in the United States. New York City Fire Department Pipes and Drums.

1975- The first New York regional organization formed; comprised of public safety and professional/trade emerald societies. The Grand Council of United Emerald Societies (GCUES).  The origins date back to the mid 1950’s and re-organized in 1975. It has become a national organization with its focus on their Political Action Committee. 

1975-First emerald society formed in the mid-west. The Emerald Society of Illinois. Joined NCLEES on 4/30/1996-Chapter #24.

1978- NYPD Detective James “Barney” Ferguson was the Grand Marshal of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade. First time in history of NYC parade that a police officer was the Grand Marshal. Detective Ferguson was also a President of the NYPD Emerald Society.

1985- The first official Emerald Society of Sanitation formed in 1985; New York City Department of Sanitation Emerald Society. The origins of this organization date back to 1938 under a different name. This agency has a component of police officers; known as “NYC Sanitation Police.”

1986- The Police Emerald Society of the Washington DC Area was established. Being in the nation’s capital and a federal city, this emerald society allowed any law enforcement officers from across the United States to join as full members (3/17/1986).

1992-First emerald society formed on the west coast. Los Angeles Police Department Emerald Society. Joined NCLEES 2/7/1996-Chapter #21.

1994- First statewide public safety emerald society formed. The Grand Council of Police & Fire Emerald Societies of New Jersey. Joined NCLEES on 11/30/1996-Chapter #29.

1994- On May 14, 1994, James ‘Jimmy” O’Connell of the Illinois Emerald Society-Chicago Police Department, played for the first time at midnight at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC. Since that time, a tradition was started which is known as the “Midnight Piper”.

1995- First nationwide public safety emerald society formed. The National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald Societies (NCLEES). First President: Patrick F. O’Brien (5/14/1995).

1995-Police Emerald Society of the Washington DC Area was the first chapter to join NCLEES on 9/25/1995-Chapter #1.

1995- The first federal government-wide law enforcement emerald society formed. Emerald Society of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies (ESFLEA). Joined NCLEES 8/24/96-Chapter #27.

1995 – The first combined police and fire emerald society to join NCLEES was: Ocean County (NJ) Police & Fire Emerald Society. Joined NCLEES on 12/30/1995-Chapter #7.

1995- The Police Emerald Society of the Washington DC Area was the first Emerald Society to financially support (12/13/95) the National Memorial Pipe Band March held in Washington DC during Police Week. (In 1998, the National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald Societies took over the reins of the National Pipe Band March).

1996- After its first full year in existence, NCLEES had 29 chapters from across the country. Chapter #29: Grand Council of New Jersey Police & Fire Emerald Societies.

1997- First emerald society formed in southern United States. Metropolitan Atlanta Police Emerald Society (2/28/1997). Joined NCLEES on 1/20/1998-Chapter #36.

1997-First emerald society formed in the southwest United States. Emerald Society of Texas-Austin Police Department (12/3/1997). Joined NCLEES 1/12/1996-Chapter #35.

1997-NCLEES receives the “Keys to the City” from Omaha Nebraska Mayor Hal Daub (1/24/1997).

1998- On January 31, 1998, NCLEES officially takes the reins of the National Memorial March and Service. NCLEES appoints Clarkstown Police (NY) as the official standing Honor Guard for the Memorial Service. The official name became: “Emerald Society and Pipe Band Memorial March and Service.”   This service is held annually on May 14, at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial (NLEOM) in Washington DC. Since 2016, the Service has become the largest event on the site of the NLEOM during Police Week.

1998- NCLEES was tested as a national organization. Two U.S. Capitol police officers were killed in the Capitol. Due to the national significance, the Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich authorized the two officers to lie in state in the US Capitol Rotunda. NCLEES was tasked with assembling mass pipe bands to play in the Rotunda and at Arlington National Cemetery. With less than 48-hour notice, NCLEES was able to assemble 10 pipe bands representing the following states: New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, Massachusetts, and, Kentucky (7/28/98).

1998-NCLEES receives from Boston City Council an “Official Resolution” making the weekend of November 7, 1998-National Conference of Law Enforcement Societies in the City of Boston.

1999-NCLEES receives from the City Council and Mayor’s Office an official proclamation making March 5. 1999, “Law Enforcement Emerald Society Day” in the City of San Francisco.

1999- NCLEES is recognized by the U.S. Congress with House Resolution #171 (5/13/1999). The resolution was to recognize NCLEES regarding the efforts in assembling ten pipe bands from seven states to the US Capitol for the funerals of two slain US Capitol Police Officers.

1999- The first State Police formed an Emerald Society. The Connecticut State Police Emerald Society was established in 1999. Joined NCLEES on 2/13/2002-Chapter #66.

1999- By the end of the century, NCLEES had 50 chapters from across the country.  Police Emerald Society of Southeast Georgia (Savannah) was the last chapter in the 20^th century. Joined NCLEES on 8/13/1999-Chapter #50.

2000- The first stand-alone fire emerald joined NCLEES. The Jacksonville (FL.) Area Firefighters Emerald Society. Joined NCLEES on 2/25/2000- Chapter #52.

2000- By the end of 2000, NCLEES had 57 chapters from across the country; Capitol District Law Enforcement Emerald Society of Upstate New York. Joined NCLEES on 7/18/2000-Chapter #57.

2001- The first stand-alone police pipe band joined NCLEES. The Pipes & Drums of Nassau County Police Department (NY). Joined NCLEES on 5/14/2001-Chapter #62.

2002- The first official law enforcement emerald society was established in Canada. The Police Emerald Society of Ottawa-Hull. Joined NCLEES on 5/15/2002- Chapter #68.

2005-The first official law enforcement emerald society was established in United Kingdom. The Police Emerald Society of Great Britain. Joined NCLEES on 5/14/2008- Chapter #78.

2012- For the first time, NCLEES held their Fall Business Meeting in London, England. Hosted on October 11-15, 2012, by Police Emerald Society of Great Britain.

2016- With the advent of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) moving the National Candlelight Vigil to the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol in 2016, NCLEES Emerald Society and Pipe band March and Service became the biggest event on the NLEOM site during Police Week (5/14/2016).

2020- Two significant events occurred in NCLEES history in 2020:

-On May 14, 2020, Sergeant Cynthia Schultz of the Jersey City Police and Emerald Society was sworn in as National Recording Secretary. This is the first time in NCLEES history a female served on the Executive Board.

-On May 31, 2020, the current National President Robert Kearns was appointed as Chief of Police of Jersey City Police (NJ). This is the first in NCLEES history, that the National President was also a Chief of Police.

2020- By the end of 2020, NCLEES had 88 chapters from across the United States, Canada and United Kingdom; Orange County Law Enforcement Emerald Society (CA), joined NCLEES on 5/14/2020-Chapter #88.

2021- In August 2021, Jeff Wannamaker became Chief of the Clarkstown Police Department (NY). Since 1998, Clarkstown Police Honor Guard has been the standing Honor Guard for the National Emerald Society/Pipeband March & Service. For the first time in NCLEES history the Officer in Charge of the Honor Guard was also a Chief of Police.

2024-On May 13, 2024, NCLEES was invited to Irish Ambassador’s resident in Washington DC for Police Week. At the residence the Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason, was presented a plaque from President Robert Kearns.  This is the first time NCLEES have been invited to the Ambassador’s residence. Ambassador Byrne Nason was also the Keynote speaker at the NCLEES Memorial March Ceremony celebrating our founders' goals of our promoting our Irish heritage and the contributions of the Irish to the Law Enforcement Community in America. 

2024- On November 9, 2024, NCLEES held the Fall Meeting in Nashville, TN. This is the first time a Fall Meeting was held without a host Emerald Society. The Board decided to branch out to expose new areas to the Emerald Society movement.

2025 – During Police Week, On May 12, 2025, the Bagpipes & Drums of the Emerald Society-Chicago Police Department, played at the Washington DC residence of the Commandant of the Marine Corps - General Eric M. Smith. Also in attendance was the Secretary of the Navy John Phelan.

Updated 7/2/25

Patrick F. O’Brien, NCLEES Historian