When George Ballard looks back on his 30-year law enforcement career—spanning city police, corrections, and the sheriff’s office—he remembers countless calls, long shifts and the camaraderie of the badge. But one memory stands out above all the rest: the time he nearly lost his career, his livelihood and his good name because he didn’t have legal defense coverage.
“I thought I was a model officer,” George recalls. “I had commendations. I was training other officers. Why would I spend money on legal defense?”
That belief changed in the late 1990s when George, then a field training officer, was accused of excessive force. He knew he had done nothing wrong, but that didn’t stop investigators from trying to charge him both administratively and criminally.
“I was offered a chance to resign and just walk away, but I wasn’t going to let them take my life away from me,” he says. “I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong.”
George fought to keep his career and his reputation intact, but because he had not signed up for the FOP Legal Defense Plan, he had to do it on his own.
By the time his name was cleared, his attorney’s fees totaled more than $15,000, an enormous financial burden at the time.
“And that was the bare minimum,” George explains. “The attorney was giving me a break on his rates. In today’s world, the same defense could easily run $50,000 to $100,000.”
The experience was a wake-up call not only for George but for his entire department. At the time, only a handful of officers carried legal defense coverage. After seeing what happened to him and another officer involved in the case, the officers in that department made a change.
“From that point on, every single officer in the agency carried legal defense,” George said. “When a new officer gets hired, the older officers tell them the story, and they enroll right away. That’s how important it became to all of us.”
George himself enrolled in the FOP Legal Defense Plan immediately and has carried it ever since. Though he never needed full legal representation again, he often relied on the plan for consultation. “Anytime I had an internal affairs interview, I would call ahead, give them a heads up, and they’d advise me what to do. Just knowing they were there gave me peace of mind.”
For George, the plan isn’t just about legal protection, it’s about protecting a way of life.
“The value is the peace of mind,” he says. “You have insurance for your car, your house, your life. Why wouldn’t you have insurance for your career—the very thing that provides for your family? If you’re a law enforcement officer and don’t have legal defense, you’re gambling with not just your career, but your livelihood and your freedom.”
That reassurance made all the difference in his day-to-day work. After his early incident, George continued his career without the constant fear of financial ruin hanging over him. “It let me do my job knowing that if something happened, I was protected. That’s priceless.”
He even kept coverage into retirement through the Retired Law Enforcement Concealed Carry Plan. “Even now, it’s worth it for the peace of mind. I’ve seen firsthand how beneficial this plan is.”
Now retired, George remains an outspoken advocate for the plan in his role as an FOP lodge president. Younger officers often come to him for advice, especially after high-profile incidents in the news.
“I tell them: put the numbers on paper. If you’re planning a 25-year career, add up what you’ll pay in dues. Then compare it to the cost of one incident with a good attorney. In today’s market, you’re looking at $50,000 or more just to bring an attorney in. The math makes the decision for you.”
He’s blunt with those who hesitate: “If you don’t think you need legal defense, you’re gambling with your career. All it takes is one accusation, one incident, one thing being misconstrued—and you’ll regret not having it.”
Since its creation in 1995, the FOP Legal Defense Plan has provided protection to more than 125,000 members, paid out over $180 million in legal fees, and serviced more than 57,000 claims. For those who’ve faced claims, like George, the plan has been more than a benefit—it has been a career saver.
George sums it up simply: “The plan will help you keep your good name. That’s something you can’t put a price on.”
Whether you’re just starting your career or an experienced officer, the risks are real. Officers face scrutiny from every angle—administrative discipline, civil lawsuits and even criminal charges arising directly from doing their jobs. The plan was built specifically to meet these realities, covering administrative, civil and criminal proceedings.
For George, the choice is clear: “It’s a no-brainer. We insure everything else in our lives. Why wouldn’t we insure the thing that supports everything—our career?”