The Iron Order is a 1% motorcycle club with chapters across the United States and internationally
The Iron Order Motorcycle Club is a motorcycle organization founded in 2010 that operates chapters in multiple states and countries. Unlike recreational riding groups, it is classified as a 1% club, a term that refers to motorcycle clubs that operate outside mainstream motorcycle associations and follow their own rules and structure. The club has been involved in several high-profile incidents that have drawn law enforcement attention and media coverage.
The Iron Order distinguishes itself from other motorcycle clubs through its stated focus on law enforcement affiliation — many members are current or former police officers, military personnel, or first responders. This sets it apart from traditional outlaw motorcycle clubs, though the distinction has not prevented legal scrutiny or conflict with other motorcycle organizations.
Key Takeaways
- The Iron Order was founded in 2010 and operates as a 1% motorcycle club with a stated emphasis on law enforcement and military membership.
- The club has been involved in multiple violent confrontations with other motorcycle clubs, resulting in criminal charges against members in several states.
- Law enforcement agencies have investigated the club's activities, and some chapters have faced federal scrutiny related to organized crime statutes.
- Membership typically requires ownership of a motorcycle, sponsorship by an existing member, and acceptance by the chapter's leadership.
How 1% motorcycle clubs are structured and operate
A 1% motorcycle club is an organization that operates independently from mainstream motorcycle associations like the American Motorcyclist Association. The "1%" designation originated from a statement by the American Motorcyclist Association claiming that 99% of motorcycle riders are law-abiding, implying that 1% are not. Clubs that adopt this label do so deliberately, signaling that they operate by their own rules rather than conventional standards.
These clubs typically have a formal hierarchy with a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and road captain. Members wear colors — a vest or jacket with the club name and logo — and follow a code of conduct established by club leadership. Chapters operate semi-autonomously but answer to a national or international leadership structure. Membership is not open; prospective members must be sponsored by an existing member and voted in by the chapter.
1% clubs maintain clubhouses, organize rides, and create social networks around motorcycle culture. However, law enforcement has long associated many 1% clubs with criminal activity including drug trafficking, weapons offenses, and violence. The Iron Order's law enforcement membership has made it unusual within this category, though it has not insulated the club from criminal investigations.
Notable incidents and legal cases involving Iron Order members
The Iron Order has been involved in several violent confrontations that resulted in criminal charges. In 2013, a shooting at a bar in Denver left one person dead and multiple others injured; members of the Iron Order and another motorcycle club were involved, and criminal cases followed. In 2015, a shooting in Reno, Nevada resulted in the death of an Iron Order member and led to charges against members of a rival club, though the incident sparked broader questions about club violence.
Federal law enforcement has investigated the club under organized crime statutes in multiple jurisdictions. In 2017, federal agents conducted raids on Iron Order chapters in several states as part of investigations into drug trafficking and weapons offenses. Some members have been convicted on charges ranging from drug distribution to assault. These cases have been prosecuted in federal and state courts across the country.
The club has also been involved in disputes with other motorcycle organizations. Confrontations with clubs like the Mongols and Hells Angels have resulted in injuries and deaths, drawing police response and criminal investigations. These conflicts have made the Iron Order a subject of ongoing law enforcement monitoring in states where chapters operate.
The role of law enforcement affiliation in the club's identity
The Iron Order's stated identity centers on membership by law enforcement officers, military veterans, and first responders. This affiliation is central to how the club markets itself and how it distinguishes itself from traditional outlaw motorcycle clubs. The club has emphasized that its membership includes active police officers and that it operates with transparency toward law enforcement.
However, this affiliation has created tension. Some law enforcement agencies have distanced themselves from the club, and individual officers' membership has sometimes resulted in internal affairs investigations or disciplinary action. The presence of police officers in a club that has been investigated for criminal activity has raised questions about conflicts of interest and the boundaries between law enforcement and club membership.
The club's law enforcement connections have not prevented criminal investigations or prosecutions. Federal and state agencies have treated Iron Order members the same as members of other motorcycle clubs when evidence of criminal conduct has emerged, regardless of their professional backgrounds.
What membership in the Iron Order typically involves
Joining the Iron Order follows a process similar to other 1% motorcycle clubs. A prospective member must own a motorcycle and be sponsored by an existing member who vouches for them. The sponsor presents the prospect to the chapter, and members vote on whether to accept them. This process can take weeks or months, and rejection is common.
Once accepted as a prospect, the individual wears a prospect patch and participates in club activities under supervision. During this period, the prospect is expected to demonstrate commitment, learn club rules, and prove reliability. After a set period — typically three to six months — the chapter votes again on whether to grant full membership and the right to wear the club's colors.
Members are expected to attend meetings, participate in organized rides, contribute financially to the club, and follow the club's code of conduct. Violations of club rules can result in suspension or expulsion. Members also represent the club in public, meaning their behavior reflects on the organization as a whole.
How law enforcement monitors motorcycle clubs
Federal and state law enforcement agencies monitor 1% motorcycle clubs through dedicated task forces and intelligence units. The FBI maintains a motorcycle gang intelligence program that tracks club activities, membership, and criminal conduct across jurisdictions. Local police departments also monitor club activities in their areas, particularly when violence or other crimes occur.
Law enforcement uses several tools to investigate motorcycle clubs: surveillance, informant networks, wiretaps authorized by court order, and analysis of criminal records. When members are arrested, prosecutors often use RICO statutes (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) to charge club leadership with conspiracy, arguing that the club itself is an organized criminal enterprise. These cases can result in lengthy sentences and asset seizures.
The presence of law enforcement officers within the Iron Order has complicated monitoring efforts. Some agencies have policies prohibiting officers from membership in motorcycle clubs, while others have allowed it with restrictions. When officers are members of clubs under investigation, agencies must navigate questions about conflicts of interest and the reliability of information.
Differences between motorcycle clubs and motorcycle gangs
The terms "motorcycle club" and "motorcycle gang" are sometimes used interchangeably, but law enforcement and researchers distinguish between them. A motorcycle club is an organization centered on motorcycle ownership and riding, with a formal structure and membership process. A motorcycle gang is defined by law enforcement as a club whose primary activities involve criminal conduct.
The Iron Order is classified by law enforcement as a motorcycle club, not officially as a gang, though members have been investigated and prosecuted for crimes. This distinction matters legally: being a member of a club is not itself illegal, but being part of an organization whose purpose is criminal activity can be prosecuted under conspiracy and organized crime statutes.
The line between club and gang can blur when individual members commit crimes. A club can have members who engage in criminal activity without the club's official purpose being criminal. However, when law enforcement can show that criminal activity is systematic and directed by club leadership, they may pursue charges against the organization itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to be a member of the Iron Order?
Membership in the Iron Order itself is not illegal. However, members who commit crimes can be prosecuted for those crimes. Law enforcement can also pursue charges against club leadership under organized crime statutes if they can show that the club directs or benefits from criminal activity by its members.
Why do some police officers join motorcycle clubs?
Officers join motorcycle clubs for the same reasons other people do: shared interest in motorcycles, camaraderie, and community. Some departments allow it with restrictions; others prohibit it. When officers are members of clubs under investigation, agencies must address potential conflicts of interest through internal policies and oversight.
What is the difference between a 1% club and a regular motorcycle club?
A 1% club operates independently from mainstream motorcycle associations and follows its own rules rather than conventional standards. Regular motorcycle clubs are typically affiliated with organizations like the American Motorcyclist Association and focus primarily on recreational riding. 1% clubs have formal hierarchies, colors, and codes of conduct similar to traditional outlaw motorcycle clubs.
Has the Iron Order been charged as an organization under RICO?
Individual members have been prosecuted under RICO and other federal statutes, but the club as an organization has not been charged under RICO in major cases that have been publicly reported. However, federal investigations into the club's activities have been ongoing in multiple jurisdictions.
How can I find information about Iron Order chapters in my area?
The club maintains a website listing chapters by state and country. Local law enforcement agencies also maintain information about motorcycle club activities in their jurisdictions, which may be available through public records requests or community policing programs.