Entire local police unions, which negotiate collective bargaining agreements for their members, can choose to affiliate with the group. Read our full report on the organization here, https://bit.ly/3xMbldo. In the wake of tragedies large and small, they pop up like mushrooms after a rain. BREAKING The House just voted to block Biden's woke ESG rule, which would let Wall Street use your retirement savings to fund left-wing political causes. Pearl S Buck International's stated purpose is to provide opportunities to explore and appreciate other cultures, build better lives for children around the globe and promote the legacy of our founder by preserving and interpreting her National Historic Landmark home. They are the tragi-charities. On 10/29/20 a man called to get pledges for national police support fund. The Police Officers Defense Alliance, for example, raised $3.2 million in 2020, and The American Police Officers Alliance raised $4.3 million. But the groups file financial disclosures with federal regulators under only a handful of names. This organization spends the vast majority of its donations on children. For example, in the tax year that ended March 2018, the Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund gave 11 families an average of $6,545 apiece. The websites describe his career in law enforcement and his role as the creator of the police officers safety act legislation carried by former San Diego Congressman Randy Duke Cunningham. Gotten calls like this? On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Write the names of the shady businesses in the comments section below, too. Unless you want your money to go toward lawsuits , take my advice and find another charity to support although preferably one on another list to this one. Here are some things you can do to avoid donating to a fake charity: Pay attention to the charity's name. Individual officers can also become members, according to its website. Please reload the page and try again. You May Like: Do You Need A Degree To Become A Police Officer. And that is likely the point. When I googled the fund, a BBB caution was the first result. For the record, on their website, it never calls itself a charity or non . Your email address will not be published. It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. This particular super PACs treasurer is a former cop who was arrested for stealing $50,000 from the police union for which he served as president. The filings dont show how much the groups officials are directly benefiting from the political committee it created, and it is unclear why the group deemed it necessary to create so many different aliases to use for soliciting donations. So have we all. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. He seemed okay with it. President Trump pardoned the sheriff even after the Department of Justice described Arpaio as being responsible for the worst case of racial profiling in U.S. history. Free online workshop! Key battles deserve tight alliances. You read that correctly. Below are a few tips for screening for legitimate charities. The result: a rise in super PACs that use sympathetic-sounding causes primarily to line their own pockets (the FEC has called this subset scam PACs). But whats the truth. The case has not yet been resolved. Wendy Beckman got a call the other day from a man asking her to help retired police and firefighters. The charitys programs focus primarily on education, mentorship, and athletic activities that empower youth. As an example, he cites former Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona. This comes at a time when some community activists have been calling for defunding the police. Law Enforcement for a Safer America does not disclose on its website who is running the super PAC, but public filings reveal that leaders of one of the countrys largest police unions are pulling the strings. again. We won't use your email for any other purpose, and you can opt out at any time via an unsubscribe link. Quoting from its website, the Committee for Police Officers Defense is a 527 Committee designed to seek out radical prosecutors, judges and district attorneys. Another organization is named on the website as well The Police Officers Defense Coalition. It spent $103,700 on behalf of House candidates about 3% of the total, and it has contributed nothing directly to veterans groups. The Better Business Bureau says if anyone calls or knocks asking you to help the police, the best thing you can do is ask them for information before you agree to donate. National Police Support Fund is a grassroots political organization that is committed to aligning the interests and needs of police officers with the public's issues and concerns within the national political process. Dont send your money to a national group collecting for causes that may not always be clear. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one "association," two "coalitions" and one "support fund"). "So I really want to support the police for what they do.". Alexandria, VA. National Police Support Fund and United Police Fund came together this November to urge Northern Virginians to get out the vote in, National Police Support Fund, Inc.Office/Mailing Address:2800 Eisenhower Drive Suite 220Alexandria, VA 22314, Donation Processing Center:PO Box 26248Alexandria, VA 22313-2648, Phone: (571) 364-6520Email: info@nationalpolicesupportfund.com, By providing your phone number, you are consenting to receive calls and SMS/MMS msgs, including autodialed and automated calls and texts using prerecorded voice, to that number from the National Police Support Fund. And some are outright scams. Its been a tough couple years for local law enforcement. Videos on Law Enforcement for a Safer America's website show cities in flames and say that officers have been injured during what the group describes as riots. Once it was blocked through my service provider, an additional phone number began to call my home multiple times a day. proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. Did you encounter any technical issues? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We found a website for them, but it gives very little information about the organization and their mission. Multiple voices could be heard in the background. Ive become suspicious after reading what they had to say . They improvise and evolve to stay one step ahead of unsuspecting donors. Wendy is fine with that and will sleep better now. The International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO was formed in 1979 to collectively represent those in law enforcement that are active or retired law enforcement officers to fight to improve, protect, and remember the lives of officers and their families in law enforcement the organization also works to improve legislation that protects and affects public safety officers, as well as representing the needs of law enforcement officers and support personnel, whether that be for better equipment, more staff or a fair wage. Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. What should we investigate next? The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. It also transferred $30,000 to another pro-police super PAC that the union operates, based on the officers listed on its filings. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. If you get one of these calls, do not donate money just hang . First Responders Children's Foundation. The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. Lots of different special interest groups are nonprofits, including some private businesses that pay their executives quite well. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. Email Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken. The websites describe his career in law enforcement and his role as the creator of the police officers safety act legislation carried by former San Diego Congressman Randy Duke Cunningham. The result: a rise in super PACs that use sympathetic-sounding causes primarily to line their own pockets (the FEC has called this subset scam PACs). I have asked 5 times to be removed from their call list, but they are still constantly calling, at this point it is harassment and it needs to STOP! We warn against them because they come off as supportive of the Greenfield Police Department, or the local police, and yet they do not do anything for us, said police Chief Robert Haigh Jr. These tend to be monies for their own agendas, and not based on the locals. This person spoke broken english and told me to donate using credit card. The call came to Get Gephardt to investigate who exactly it is that's making those calls. Money donated to this group might be used for political purposes and will not be used for direct help to police or troopers, Fox wrote. As our conversation continued, the caller would lower the amount of funding he was requesting. ThePAC, organized by Zachary Bass, spent 90% of its take on fundraising, campaign filings show. Use a search engine to look for " your state + charity list ". Join AARP for just $9 per yearwhen you sign up for a 5-year term. At the end of 2021, robocalls raising money for police groups were the highest-volume phone messages in most major U.S. markets, according to Nomorobo, a robocall-blocking company that works with AARP on fraud prevention. Ask for information, check sites like Charitynavigator.org and then if it all checks out, write that check. But their website and solicitations are designed to look and sound like Make a Wish. For anyone interested in supporting law enforcement, experts say, think local. Our movement is comprised of tens of thousands of Americans from all walks of life who are joined together by their common respect for the rule of law and united in their support for the police officers who put their lives on the line every day in their communities. I said I do not donate over the phone, he said I did not need to they would mail me a pledge kit. The scripts were designed to give the impression that they were helping out officers versus lobbying efforts, he said, adding that the political affiliation was only fully disclosed when someone proactively asked where the money would be going. He could not answer. He paused for a few seconds and said "okay, bye" and hung up the phone. Now, the last thing I want to do is discourage you from giving to causes you care about, like supporting police. I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. Claire Reiss, 79, said she thought the more than $2,000 she donated would go to injured police and their families, but that she stopped giving away her money when the calls just wouldnt stop. and our It said callers were soliciting support for police officers but that the group was actually connected to a political action committee. FEC filings show that of the group's minimal political spending, most has gone toward pro-Trump advertising such as billboards. Up to June 2020, only 2% of the groups spending went toward political activities mainly for advertisements supporting President Donald Trumps reelection, according to data filed with the FEC. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. This policy has been repudiated by a significant number of law enforcement leaders, whose experience has led them to conclude that it would make their communities unsafe. Law Enforcement for a Safer America officials did not return repeated requests for comment. Hispanic Federation (New York City) Abandoned Children's Fund. Some telemarketers who claim to be raising money for causes like homeless veterans and cancer victims work for political action committees , not charities, and keep much of the money they raise. Read Also: How Do You Know If The Police Are Investigating You. To promote the prevention of juvenile crime and violence by building relationships among kids, cops and community through positive engagement. In this case, the pitch was for money for helping police officers in the continuing war against cops.. Super PACs generally have far fewer state-level reporting requirements and are regulated by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), which has fewer enforcement options than the IRS. Oh, god, she said upon being contacted by CNN and learning how the money was spent, Im supposed to be smart, but boy was I a dope.. Other policies that the NPA promotes include aggressive stop-and-frisk tactics and broken windows policingstrategies that have resulted in unconstitutional practices that undermine civil liberties. That is equivalent to 2.7 percent of the $2.7 million the organization raised from donors that year, according to its federal tax return. So I would like to say just beware of scammers , Ive copied the letter I received so in hopes that people will know not to donate unless you are 109% sure it not a scam. So we can Verify, National Coalition for Police and Troopers is a site owned by a PAC, isn't a charitable organization. I said no i was told I would be sent a pledge form. Read Also: Do You Have To Call The Police After An Accident, 2021 KnowYourPolice.net Unable to verify the federal tax ID, redirected to a toll-free number. National Police Defense Foundation has earned a 81% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. Ways to contribute: You can contribute to the Police Unity Tour by donating through their website. Tax filings also show that the union operates its own call center and that a company the union controls purchased a nearly 20,000 square foot office building valued at more than $2.5 million, where the union is now based. Last month the National Police Association (NPA) filed an ethics complaint against Rachael Rollins, the new district attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts (who recently . Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. It appears there are a number of nonprofits up and running under the apparent control of Fotis. Charities face relatively rigorous review from the Internal Revenue Service, and most states require them to register before they can operate there. I have asked 5 times to be removed from their call list, but they are still constantly calling, at this point it is harassment and it needs to STOP! I came across ScamPulse.com warning people about donating to the NPSF . Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. The mailing scam, which was identified in a CNN article last fall and had already targeted residents in eastern states including Massachusetts and Wisconsin, asks recipients of the letter to donate $20 to an organization misleadingly calling itself the "Police Officers Support Association, PAC" according to Grass Valley Police Sgt. When a solicitor for one of these groups calls a prospective donor the pitch will include the truthful statement that they are a nonprofit organization. The union is run by a retired police detective, and it is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the countrys biggest federation of unions, which did not respond to requests for comment. The fundraisers connection to the charity. National Association of Police Athletics/Activities League. It turns out Police and Fire Retirees of Ohio is a legitimate non profit lobbying group, though it is not a charity under IRS rules. Fundraising calls are allowed even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. With tales of woe and heartbreaking images of children or helpless animals, they beg for assistance. He never would have given money to any group if he knew that some of that money was going to pro-Trump campaign ads, said Busse. The latter is the name of the PAC I found earlier that had raised $3.2 million in contributions. ', Fleeing Suspect Arrested on Trolley After Man Stabbed Multiple Times Downtown, San Diego Neo-Nazi Robert Wilson Suspected in Anne Frank House Incident, Sierra Snowpack Grows to Nearly Double Normal, Easing California Drought, Theatre Week Becomes Theatre Month Enjoy Deals As Low As $15 All Through March, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Below are our favorite charities for law enforcement: National Police Foundation. The BBB said days later, the New Jersey State Police photo had been removed from the site. Consumer Protection. Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. After further investigation, they are not approved by the better business bureau and they have nothing but horrible reviews . The union has previously come under fire for hiring allegedly deceptive telemarketers and costly fundraising efforts that benefited its own organization and a police charity it operates. Especially after a tragedy or military-related event, fundraisers and causes show up on social media and people create crowdfunding campaigns to help those affected. Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. I started rifling through my mail as he gave me the same exact spiel this time saying he represented United Police support fund. The tour began with 18 members of law enforcement, who rode from New Jersey to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Their impact and transparency ratings: The Police Unity Tour holds a Financial rating of 84 out of 100 from Charity Navigator. Government documents show that the founding treasurer is currently an executive at the International Union of Police Associations. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The International Union of Police Associations and its related organizations go by more than a dozen different names, including the Police Officers Support Association and the National Emergency Responders Coalition. UPDATE 2020-10-29: Another new call from 585-206-3552 with a similar pre-recorded voice auto-responder identifying as 'Jeff Scott' with the National Police Support Fund. If it is a scam they are awfully convincing on the phone but are also rather forceful. IRS reports show that in 2011 alone, executive director Ken Howles drew an $87000 salary of the little money left over, only around 9-14% made its way into the hands of the troopers. Concerns of Police Survivors. If you want fundraisers to stop calling, ask them to put you on the charitys do not call list. Of those who gave more than $200, which are required to be disclosed to the federal government, roughly 80% were retirees, according to an analysis of the data. The man on the other end of the phone is asking for money for the protection of police officers. Not authorized by any candidate or . What can we learn from the latest Coinbase cyberattack? The Greenfield, Massachusetts, police department warned about the group last year as well. Do You Have To Call The Police After An Accident, How Long Does It Take To Get Into Police Academy, How Many People Were Killed By Police In 2020, Where To File A Police Report For Car Accident. The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. The fund is the third in a series of outrageous attempts by founders David Dierks and Phil LeConte to extort money from generous Americans under the pretext of donations to the nation's police forces. I confronted him that if they were legit, why it was that they are labeled as a scam operation. The pop-up charity business is usually local, occasionally regional and rarely national. Privacy Policy. proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. The National Police Support Fund is a legitimate organization that supports the interests of America's law enforcement officers. Simple: less scrutiny. The fund is a real nonprofit organization, but it is a political group created "primarily to influence the selection, nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates to federal, state or local public office. Also worth noting is that while his organization is based in Virginia, and gets its mail in Stafford, TX, Fotis lives in Lake Worth, FL. I also learned that they were sued in the biggest FTC case in history. Around 200 consumer complaints have also been made to state and federal regulators about the super PAC, its aliases and related groups. A union receptionist also confirmed to CNN that the super PAC is run by the union, but union leaders did not respond to repeated calls, voicemails and emails that laid out the concerns from other police departments and donors and asked why so little of the $10 million raised went toward political activities. Contributions made to National Police Support Fund are not tax-deductible. Wow! Are the money-gathering techniques these scam PACs use illegal? If you have been contacted via telephone and asked to make donations to the National Police Foundation in Washington, D.C., this is a scam. The FTC and charity regulators and law enforcement officials in every state have teamed up on more than 100 actions against dozens of fake charities, which have collected tens of millions of . The National Police Support Fund has a website and even a Facebook page to make them look legit, but hundreds of articles pop up from sources like the Better Business Bureau, The National Police Foundation and more warning people NOT to donate to this organization. Sara Kemerer of the Cincinnati BBB says you should look them up at the bureau's website, www.bbb.org, or at Charity Navigator.org, or Guidestar.org. Learn how vehicle tech like blind spot warnings and drowsy driving alerts can help make driving safer. Simple: less scrutiny. She remembers news stories two years ago, about 67-year-old Jerry Hinkle, a Cincinnati man who raised thousands of dollars for the Shop with a Cop program, then admitted in court that he spent it on personal expenses (the case ended with a plea agreement). This section is used to influence public opinion in support of the interests of . What they do: The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League aims to minimize juvenile crime through outreach programs that pair officers with youth. The calls asking for donations come from aliases like the Police Officers Support Association and The National Coalition for Police & Troopers. The PTRF/LEORF was created to provide specialized relief when, tragically, a law enforcement officer is killed in the line-of-duty or seriously injured in . For more information, please see our Published Another telemarketing employee reached by CNN in the Philippines confirmed this, saying he solicited money on behalf of the super PAC and the IUPA using audio recordings of someone who sounded like they were actually calling from America, and that most of the people they reached were elderly adding he felt it was a scam because they didnt realize what they were actually donating to. The call was spoofed to appear to be from [a] Montana phone number, he wrote, noting that the caller did not identify the group as a political action committee, or super PAC, and telling his followers that it was not a nonprofit so donations are not tax deductible. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. When a charitys fundraiser calls to ask you for a donation, they have to follow some rules: A: We engage in activities aimed at supporting our law enforcement officers and standing up for their rights and values throughout the political process. Local organizations that raise money on behalf of San Diego law enforcement include: Star/Pal for San Diego Police, which provides educational and recreational services for inner-city youth, and the San Diego County Deputy Sheriffs Foundation, which provides support services for sheriffs personnel and families. For example, in 2019, nearly 90% of the organizations income was spent on its programming. He was donating to anyone who asked him for money, he said. And the Morton Police Department in Illinois posted on Facebook about calls from a mysterious phone number with a local area code last year. He said he ultimately left because he didnt feel like he was supporting the charitable efforts he had hoped to seeing a shift toward fundraising for PACs instead of charities and observing how little of the money went to the causes callers were touting. The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. The National Policing Institute, a national, Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing policing through science and innovation, has received information from several individuals who have been contacted by solicitors asking for donations in support of the "National Policing Institute," or in some cases the "National Police Fund," which we are not affiliated . We highly encourage our followers to verify who they are making donations to when contacted for fundraisers.. What should we investigate next? National Police Support Fund brings together Americans from all walks of life united under the banner of respect and support of our nation's law enforcement officers. This includes marketing and outreach to supporters and communities, grassroots political efforts, and digital marketing efforts. Trump billboards along a desert stretch of highway near the border of California and Arizona were paid for by a small business that received a federal loan. What they do: ThePolice Unity Tour raises funds and awareness for members of law enforcement who lost their lives during their service.