National F.O.P. President Steve Young Loses Battle with Cancer
Steve Young, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, lost his
battle with cancer and passed away on January 9, 2003, at the age of 49.
Steve is a native of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and a graduate of Upper Sandusky
High School. He is survived by his wife, Denise; his children, Steven David
and his wife Karen Angela, and Staten Daniel; his three sisters, Gloria Steurer,
Kay Baker, and Deborah Smith; and his mother, Lillian Heffelfinger.
"Steve Young was the finest of our nation's finest," said Chuck Canterbury, the F.O.P.'s National Vice President. "Though Steve did not complete his term, he leaves a record of accomplishment that future National Presidents will find difficult to match. He forged an excellent working relationship with the Bush Administration and, in so doing, has made the Fraternal Order of Police the most prominent and influential law enforcement organization in the United States."
Young was unanimously elected to serve as National President of the F.O.P. at the organization's Biennial National Conference in Phoenix, Arizona in 2001. Young was a 26-year member of the Fraternal Order of Police and was an innovative leader in issues affecting law enforcement personnel. He was a graduate of the FBI National Academy and served as a Lieutenant in the Marion City Police Department in Ohio until his passing today. During his career, Young helped create the Ohio Labor Council, with more than 8,000 members, to improve the effectiveness of management/labor negotiations within police forces, a model that is now being used in fourteen states.
"Steve Young spent his career fighting for the rank-and-file member," said Canterbury. "In his eleven years as President of the Ohio State Lodge, four years as National Vice President and his all-too brief term as National President, Steve woke up each morning and went to work for the citizens of Marion City and the rank-and-file officers in every region of the country. He was as dedicated a man, an officer, and a friend as I have ever known."
Under his leadership, the F.O.P. forged a closer and better working relationship with the Administration than ever before. President George W. Bush, who earned the F.O.P.'s endorsement in 2000, asked Young to serve on his Homeland Security Advisory Council, where he often found himself the only voice speaking in support of Federal employees. In this capacity, Young and the F.O.P. worked cooperatively with the Director of the Office of Homeland Security, Governor Tom Ridge. With the creation of the new Department of Homeland Security and the appointment of Governor Ridge as Secretary, the F.O.P. will have a role in the transition of the many law enforcement agencies to their new homes.
More recently, because of the F.O.P.'s relationship with the Administration, the F.O.P. was asked to serve as a Charter Member of the National Citizen Corps Council, which brings together national leaders from first responder groups, emergency management agencies, volunteer service organizations, State and local governments, and the private sector to engage citizens in homeland security and promote community and family safety practices across the country.
In December 2001, President Bush also appointed Young as a member of the Medal of Honor Review Board which was created by legislation supported by the F.O.P. and signed into law in May of that year.
National President Young led the effort to increase the ties and better the relationship between the F.O.P. and the U.S. Department of Justice. The F.O.P. was among the first to endorse Senator John D. Ashcroft when he was tapped by President Bush to serve as U.S. Attorney General. Our support was warmly welcomed by General Ashcroft, who often seeks input from the F.O.P. when crafting law enforcement policy.
Young also broke new ground for the F.O.P. in Washington when he worked to establish a close partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor and Secretary Elaine L. Chao. One of the first fruits of this new relationship was a $2 million grant from the Labor Department to the F.O.P. to design and administer a scholarship program for the spouses of fallen officers.
Canterbury credits Young and his leadership of the organization for the F.O.P.'s national prominence. "Leadership is a difficult quality to define," he said, "but you know a leader when you see one. Likewise, friendship is difficult to define, but everyone knows what a friend is. Steve was both, to me and to the more than 300,000 members of this proud organization that he loved so deeply and served so well. Every law enforcement officer lost a friend and a leader today. Our hearts go out to Steve's family and our prayers will be with him and the loved ones he leaves behind."
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the American
Cancer Society on Steve Young's behalf.
