Welcome to the Greater Raleigh Emerald Society (GRES) website!

Our Mission

To help support, unite, and promote positive comraderie of all public safety family in Raleigh-Durham and surrounding areas.

Who We Are

The GRES is a non political organization. It was developed so members can relax and not worry about the pressures of their jobs and what rank people are in their agency as rank (Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant, ETC) is checked at the door as everyone is equal inside the GRES.

How We Got Started

The GRES was formed after several members of the Raleigh Police Department got together and wanted to celebrate being Irish and belonging to a Police Department. These individuals were very familiar with Emerald Societies in cities where they grew up so they decided to form one of their own. So in September of 2005, the GRES was formed.

Contact was made with the Hibernian Pub in Raleigh NC who gracefully agreed to allow the GRES to hold their meetings in one of their three rooms inside the pub.

We Keep Growing

The GRES idea caught on and quickly grew to over 250 members from Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill including Police, Fire, EMS, and 911 Dispatch in the first year.

The GRES adopted the rules and Bi-Laws set up by the National Conference of Law Enforcement’s Emerald Societies (NCLEES) and began the process of voting on Board of Directors and Elected Officers. The first official board was elected on March 17, 2006.

p>Since that date, the GRES has grown to over 300 members in our community. The GRES has worked hard to support local charities by performing different functions where the proceeds are given for their use. These functions include the Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade, GRES Family Picnic, GRES Anniversary Party, and the GRES Winter Ball among others. The GRES has also performed other events in support of local public safety members whose families have fallen on hard times due to death, illness, or natural catastrophe.

On May 14, 2006, GRES elected delegates went to the National meeting in Washington DC and went before the National Chapter to seek acceptance as a Nationally Chaptered Emerald Society. After a unanimous vote, the Greater Raleigh Emerald Society was welcomed into the NCLEES.

Our Objectives

The objectives of the National Conference of Law Enforcement Emerald Societies are:

  • To Unite all public safety Emerald Societies in order to develop fraternalism amongst its members.

  • To preserve the Irish culture and to promote the contributions of our ancestors.

  • To recognize the accomplishments of Irish-Americans in Law Enforcement and other public safety professions.

  • To exchange information and enhance communications among member organizations and to start new public safety Emerald Societies.

  • To provide a unified and effective voice for it’s member organizations to the Congress of the United States and other government institutions.

  • To work with civic and public safety associations on areas of mutual concerns.


  • Membership is extended to any public servant or civilian of Irish heritage or spirit. The governing body of the Greater Raleigh Emerald Society consists of a six (6) person Executive Board. We are also looking to establish standing committees such as: Activities, By-Laws, Communications, Fund Raising, Recruitment, etc..

Join Us!

In the forming of the GRES, these founding members decide that they were not going to limit membership to just Raleigh Police, but they would open it up to all public safety members (Fire, EMS, 911 Dispatch) of the Irish Heritage (or those possessing the Irish Spirit) within the Greater Raleigh Area.. The idea was to have these different agencies get together to spread comraderie and to allow them a place to come and unwind with friends and people who understand who they are and what they do.

Emerald Society Membership Application

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