Chuck Canterbury

Chuck Canterbury began serving as President of the Fraternal Order of Police in January 2003 after the death of President Steve Young. He has been reelected seven times.

President Canterbury joined the Fraternal Order of Police in 1984 when he, along with eleven other officers, chartered their Local Lodge. He served as Local Lodge President for 13 years, during which time he was instrumental in starting the Lodge Legal Defense Plan, purchasing the first lodge building, and starting the Lodge insurance program.

He went on to serve as State Lodge President from 1990 to 1998. During his tenure he was instrumental in establishing the State Lodge lobbying program, initiating the political endorsement program and implementing the State Lodge Legal Defense Plan. He led the effort to hire a full time Executive Director for the State Lodge to manage these programs.

He began his service on the Grand Lodge Executive Board in 1995 when he was elected to the first of three terms as the Second Vice President. In 2001, he was elected Vice President. During this time, he has worked to expand the police labor movement in the areas of our country who do not have collective bargaining rights. Improving the quality of life for police officers has been his foremost goal. During his tenure he has brought a best business practice model to the FOP.

President Canterbury retired in January 2004 from the Horry County Police Department, Conway, South Carolina, where he most recently had oversight of the Operations Bureau. He began his police career in 1978 and over his 26-year career he worked in the Patrol Division, the Criminal Investigations Division and served as the Training Division Supervisor, during which he was certified as an Instructor in basic law enforcement, firearms, chemical weapons, and pursuit driving.

He has been appointed by President George Bush to serve on the Medal of Valor Board and also serves on our Nation's Homeland Security Council. Chuck has also been appointed to the Congressional Badge of Bravery Awards committee. Chuck is also on the Board of Directors of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He also serves as Treasurer of the International Council of Police Representatives Association. This group represents over 1.4 million of our world's law enforcement officers.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Coastal Carolina University.