is national police support fund legit

Cookie Notice This group purports on various websites that donations are being used to back candidates who will stand up for police and introduce legislation to help officers and provide benefits to families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. 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. One of Fotis websites solicits money for individuals who were guilty of a crime for doing their job the way they were trained to do it. I also learned that they were sued in the biggest FTC case in history. The Greenfield, Massachusetts, police department warned about the group last year as well. If you get one of these calls, do not donate money just hang . Lots of different special interest groups are nonprofits, including some private businesses that pay their executives quite well. 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. Being a generous person, she agreed to mail them $50. I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. Read Also: How Do You Know If The Police Are Investigating You. They count on local press coverage and a quick website. 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. Use a search engine to look for " your state + charity list ". We highly encourage our followers to verify who they are making donations to when contacted for fundraisers.. I should have been more aware that it sounded fishy and of course just saw the ScamPulse.com warning. Last month the National Police Association (NPA) filed an ethics complaint against Rachael Rollins, the new district attorney for Suffolk County, Massachusetts (who recently . You read that correctly. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription toAARP The Magazine. 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. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Dont send your money to a national group collecting for causes that may not always be clear. One of the more successful scams is when the scammer poses as one of many charities benefitting Law Enforcement. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Also Check: Do You Have To Pay For A Police Report. Three calls to his Virginia office for comment have gone unanswered as well as an email sent directly to his address listed in his filings with California. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. We use the funds raised from these activities to support elected officials, candidates, and organizations whose goals and values align with our own. The Police Unity Tour was founded in 1997 by Patrick Montuore, a police officer from New Jersey. If they are PACs, the fundraising effort is politically motivated and wont necessarily support San Diego-area officers or deputies or their families. The Wilmington Police Department has no association with this organization and we have never even heard of them, stated a May release from the department. ', 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. "Being that it was a recording right off the bat . Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues. I feel they abuse their use of the name to maybe convey a false sense to the community about who they are and what they really do with the money.. 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. Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. 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. The charitys programs focus primarily on education, mentorship, and athletic activities that empower youth. Phony Firefighters Scam. Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). Free online workshop! In the report, National Police Support Fund reported about $61,000 in . This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. Leaving politics aside for a minute, how do you know if those calls are legitimate? In a nationwide, federal-state crackdown on fraudulent telemarketers claiming to help police, firefighters, and veterans, the Federal Trade Commission, together with 61 Attorneys General, Secretaries of State, and other law enforcers of 49 states and the District of Columbia, today announced Operation False Charity. . Learn more about how we use cookies in our cookie policy. The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. FEC regulations state that political committees can only deposit a contribution into their account if that money came from a solicitation which expressly states that the contribution will be used in connection with a Federal election or the solicitation discloses that contributions are subject to federal election law. Read Also: What Are The Best Police Boots, Read Also: How Do I Become A K9 Police Officer. Recommended Reading: How To Become A Desk Police Officer, Also Check: Can Police Help Me Unlock My Car. The National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. Type of a scam Charity. Ive become suspicious after reading what they had to say . I recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. One woman received a call from the . The organization also participates in advocacy work to emphasize some of the dangers law enforcement officers face, and the sacrifices they make to protect society. 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! Unable to verify the federal tax ID, redirected to a toll-free number. If it is a scam they are awfully convincing on the phone but are also rather forceful. The fundraisers connection to the charity. Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. Groups like Antifa and Black Lives Matter have inspired people to assassinate cops on the street. I asked him where the money goes. It wasnt the usual automated call, and hearing a human voice kept me on the line. Write the names of the shady businesses in the comments section below, too. 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 . . She said she was told the group was a charity benefiting police and troopers. 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! Among the other warnings: The Miami Township Police in Ohio issued a scam alert in June referencing calls circulating from a Police Officers Support Association asking for credit card donations. The Reading Police Department in Massachusetts described the Police Officers Support Association as a scam charity last year. In fact, they count on the confusion to gather contributions. 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 BBB said days later, the New Jersey State Police photo had been removed from the site. 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. A secretive political group has been pulling in millions of dollars in recent months amid a growing Blue Lives Matter movement, with a cadre of telemarketers urgently telling Americans that now is the time to support the police and keep them safe. He instead provided me with their national number. 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. At the end of 2021, robocalls raising money for police groups were thehighest-volume phone messages in most major U.S. markets, according to Nomorobo, a robocall-blocking company that works with AARP on fraud prevention. The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. The IRS has pretty broad rules for being a nonprofit organization. But these telemarketers bombarding our phone lines? In about 7 years (through March 2018), the union and relief fund spent a total of approximately $102.3 million, of which $82.3 million went towards fundraising. National Police Support Fund is a grassroots political organization that is committed to aligning the interests and needs of police officers with the publics issues and concerns within the national political process. For example, a very well known and respected group is the Make a Wish Foundation. How much do I need to save for retirement? 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. He said his father has always leaned heavily Democratic, supported President Barack Obama and previously expressed strong anti-Trump views. Concerns of Police Survivors. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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. Mostly they are the products of individual scammers who smell an opportunity to cash in using the name of a victim who may or may not even be real. I said no i was told I would be sent a pledge form. The first one, the texh . The group's videos have received few views, but money has been pouring in. What they do: ThePolice Unity Tour raises funds and awareness for members of law enforcement who lost their lives during their service. KENNER, LA (WVUE) - The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office warns of a scam from the "American Police Officers Alliance" asking for donations for law enforcement. National Association of Police Athletics/Activities League. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. They would have soundboards with prerecorded bits that would play and give the impression they were talking to a live person but in reality it was just someone playing bits off a soundboard, he said. Wow! What should we investigate next? As our conversation continued, the caller would lower the amount of funding he was requesting. 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. Together, the Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund and the International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO, have spent about $82.3 million 77 percent of their operating expenditures on fundraising services from around 2011 to March 2018, according to a Public Integrity analysis of annual tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue . proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. 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). Our grassroots organization was formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows us to engage in political activity. The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. again. 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. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - From unmarked strip-mall offices in small-town Alabama, the calls go out across the United States, meant to talk people into giving . The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. In the first half of 2021, this organization reported donations of $4.3 million; expenditures were just under $4.2 million, the bulk of this going to overhead fundraising, lawyers, lead lists and so on. Consumer Protection. 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. We are just passing along the information if you get a suspicious call asking for money for police officers.. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Discovery Company. Years later, as the success of the program and its activities grew, six chapters on the east coast decided to convene and discuss how athletics could be incorporated into the organizations programs. The scenario is all too familiar. The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. That means of a $35 donation, no more than $3.50 goes to their stated cause. Contributions are not tax deductible. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. For more information, please refer to the IRS definition of Political Organization. Here are a few ideas to help you give safely: Con artists refer to what they do as a hustle. 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. Asking for donations to the National Police Support Fund. Across the industry, calls are computer-generated before being routed to telemarketers, something Politicause and TPFE employees said allowed their firms to maximize the number of calls and to pester people repeatedly. It appears their lack of transparency regarding where the money goes was the reason for the BBB caution. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. 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. Did you encounter any technical issues? He was super pushy trying to get me to donate for 75,95, 105 dollars. I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. But their website and solicitations are designed to look and sound like Make a Wish. Your email address will not be published. But whats the truth. On 12/30/2018, I received a call from (862) 333-2411 from a man with a deep voice and a southern accent, who identified himself as Dan, if I would like to make a donation to the National Police Trust Fund. One very common hustle is the name game. A: The National Police Support Fund is a grassroots nonprofit political organization founded in 2017 under Section 527 of the IRS tax code. The website soliciting funds for Arpaio says, Liberals have targeted Sheriff Joe Arpaio with a multi-million dollar lawsuit because he was upholding the law of the land. Super PACs are able to raise unlimited amounts of money, which they can use to advocate for political candidates or causes. According to the complaint, DPSF conned people into donating more than $9.9 million. Key battles deserve tight alliances. Fundraising calls are allowed even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. I did not feel comfortable giving the information over the phone . Can the police officers count on you?. Our Police, Firefighters, and all First Responders do need our support. A warning tonight about a phone and mail scam asking for donations. Charity hustles work the same way. American Association of State Troopers claims to support retired state troopers. But as I learned, these callers are masters at evading any such disclosure. All Rights Reserved. He could not answer. These are Americas heroes. Videos on its site show cities in flames and say that officers have been injured during what the group describes as riots presumably referring to recent Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. 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. Also in Massachusetts, a Wilmington police officer received a call soliciting donations. Stated that donations were not tax-deductible. This Florida-based union touts its federal lobbying efforts on behalf of local members. Law Enforcement for a Safer America has raked in nearly $10 million in donations from January 2019 to June 2020, according to data reported to the Federal Election Commission. Why does this matter? As the list of high-profile police shootings has grown in recent years and calls to defund the police have gotten louder, tensions between protesters and those who have rushed to the support of police some of whom have become part of a Blue Lives Matter movement have been building. 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. 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. 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). Many of the other complaints to the FTC about the political committee and its related groups said fundraisers used spoofed numbers and violated the law by calling them even though they were on the Do Not Call list, while others said they had been misled or even harassed by fundraisers. Law Enforcement for a Safer America has raked in nearly $10 million in donations from January 2019 to June 2020 . 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The Better Business Bureau conducted an investigation and found . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. 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. It said callers were soliciting support for police officers but that the group was actually connected to a political action committee. I asked them to mail me a bill instead and they did , I called the phone number on the letter and did not get a respond so I decided to go to their website . 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. It sounded like the solicitor was calling from a boiler room, where individuals dial from a list of working phone numbers. 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 told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. That way, you avoid all of . This section is used to influence public opinion in support of the interests of . So we can Verify, National Coalition for Police and Troopers is a site owned by a PAC, isn't a charitable organization. Busse said he and his sister took over their fathers finances last year. These charities usually rake in a few thousand dollars and disappear. 2023 Cable News Network. I said I do not donate over the phone, he said I did not need to they would mail me a pledge kit. Similarly, the Police Coalition of America, which promises "to enact positive change and legislation that protects our citizens as well as our law enforcement," spent $530,000 on . Here are the Top 7 Amazon scam calls. This organization spends the vast majority of its donations on children. I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. A warning tonight about calls targeting people around the Tri-State asking them to help support the police. Its made up of series of regular steps timed to the beat of the music that can be improvised as needed. Wendy is fine with that and will sleep better now. The I.U.P.A. The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. 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. The caller said he was phoning on behalf of the Committee for Police Officers Defense. To promote the prevention of juvenile crime and violence by building relationships among kids, cops and community through positive engagement. 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. The first thing I noticed was that I wasnt talking to live people; the answers all sounded scripted and recorded. Simple web searches can show that the 'charitable organization' calling either 1 .

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