Washington, DC - Representatives of the Fraternal Order of Police returned from the 2026 Biennial Meeting of the International Council of Police Representative Associations (ICPRA) in Victoria, British Columbia, where police association leaders from around the world gathered to address common challenges facing law enforcement officers and the organizations that represent them.
“The value of ICPRA is found in the relationships we build and the experiences we share,” said Patrick Yoes, National FOP President. “The laws, uniforms, and systems may differ from country to country, but the challenges facing police officers and our responsibility to represent them cross every border.”
Representing more than 1.5 million law enforcement officers across four continents, ICPRA brings those shared challenges to one table. Through collaboration and the exchange of ideas and best practices, member organizations work together on officer safety and wellness, recruitment and retention, working conditions, emerging technology, and other issues shaping the future of policing and police representation.
During the meeting, Yoes was reelected Treasurer of ICPRA. Tom Stamatakis, President of the Canadian Police Association was reelected President, and David Kennedy, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, was reelected General Secretary. The three officers serve on ICPRA’s Executive Committee alongside representatives from five geographic regions.
“I am honored to continue serving alongside Tom, David, and police association leaders from around the world,” Yoes said. “These relationships give the FOP an opportunity to learn from the experiences of our international partners while sharing the work and successes of the FOP on behalf of our more than 382,000 members.”
The National FOP delegation also included Chairman of Trustees Rob Pride and Director of Wellness Services Sherri Martin. Martin participated in the conference’s officer wellness programming, presenting on the important role police unions and associations play in supporting officer wellness and highlighting the FOP’s Power in Peers program, which provides a standardized approach to law enforcement peer support.
“Officer wellness, violence against police officers, recruitment and retention, emerging technology, and the changing nature of police representation are not uniquely American challenges,” Yoes said. “There is tremendous value in sitting across the table from leaders representing officers from around the world, exchanging ideas, learning from one another, and building relationships that make all of our organizations stronger.”
The FOP has maintained a longstanding relationship with ICPRA for more than two decades. The organization traces its beginnings to a 1996 gathering organized by the Canadian Police Association and has since developed into an established international forum for police representative organizations.
“Strong representation begins with strong relationships,” Yoes concluded. “ICPRA reminds us that while thousands of miles may separate the officers we represent, our commitment to their safety, well-being, rights, and working conditions unites us. When police representatives share knowledge and stand together around common goals, every organization and every officer we represent benefits.”