To raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. As we stated earlier, these 50 charities account for almost $1 Billion in donations. 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. I quickly identified over 70 super PACs with police or law enforcement in their names. The pop-up charity business is usually local, occasionally regional and rarely national. What they do: ThePolice Unity Tour raises funds and awareness for members of law enforcement who lost their lives during their service. Several donors said they never would have given money to the group if they knew it would pay for Trump advertisements, including 70-year-old Susan Durie, a self-described bleeding heart liberal Democrat from Los Angeles who donated around $600 and said she felt like a victim of a scam since she thinks she was misled into believing that her donation would go to local police. Our mission is to promote the interests of our nation's police officers within our nation's political and public policy process. In fact, they count on the confusion to gather contributions. Also in Massachusetts, a Wilmington police officer received a call soliciting donations. The safest way to donate on social media or crowdfunding campaign is to give to people you actually know. How to report a scammer? Terms & conditions/privacy policy apply https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com/terms-of-service/, Contributions to the National Police Support Fund are not tax deductible. In the wake of tragedies large and small, they pop up like mushrooms after a rain. Police Protection Fund. The vast majority of donations since 2019 were under $200, meaning the funds came from tens of thousands of donors. What they do: The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League aims to minimize juvenile crime through outreach programs that pair officers with youth. National Police Association Inc. has earned a 60% for the Accountability & Finance beacon. Tax records show the Fotis organization that phoned me raised $75,000 in 2021, up from $50,000 the year before. Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. 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 case has not yet been resolved. The I.U.P.A. Go to their website and give there or call the number listed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Many donors say they believed they were supporting a charity that helps local officers. On 10/29/20 a man called to get pledges for national police support fund. What should we investigate next? Groups like Antifa and Black Lives Matter have inspired people to assassinate cops on the street. One hit wonders seeking to cash in on the tragedy of the day from floods and fires to missing children and more. This all looks very peculiar, said Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia Law School who specializes in campaign finance. 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. Ways to contribute: You can contribute to the Police Unity Tour by donating through their website. An employee who said he previously worked for two companies that raised money for Law Enforcement for a Safer America said that at his more recent job, callers were instructed not to disclose that they were calling on behalf of a super PAC. 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. Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. I said no i was told I would be sent a pledge form. 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. An image from Law Enforcement For A Safer America PAC's Facebook page. by Michelle Diament, April 2008. 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. Are the money-gathering techniques these scam PACs use illegal? It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. That way, you avoid all of . Entire local police unions, which negotiate collective bargaining agreements for their members, can choose to affiliate with the group. Recommended Reading: How Many Hours To Become A Police Officer, Read Also: What Education Do I Need To Be A Police Officer. POLICING THE MOST DANGEROUS CITY IN THE COUNTRY: What do Chicago's LEO's and citizens think? A charity is only one type of nonprofit. We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. Can the police officers count on you?. Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. 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. I should have been more aware that it sounded fishy and of course just saw the ScamPulse.com warning. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one association, two coalitions and one support fund). 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. For example, in 2019, nearly 90% of the organizations income was spent on its programming. 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. Many charities that help first responders like police officers and firefighters veterans, and active duty military, or their families, pay fundraisers to call donors or potential donors. Its made up of series of regular steps timed to the beat of the music that can be improvised as needed. In two words, its not. The groups videos have received few views, but money has been pouring in. During the pandemic, a plethora of fraudulent websites came out like a plague. Lots of different special interest groups are nonprofits, including some private businesses that pay their executives quite well. This was up from roughly $1 million raised by the group, which was founded in June 2018, in the last six months of the prior election cycle. The BBB said days later, the New Jersey State Police photo had been removed from the site. But the groups file financial disclosures with federal regulators under only a handful of names. 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. HARRISBURG Attorney General Josh Shapiro is warning Pennsylvanians to be on the lookout for bogus fundraising calls that purport to benefit the families of Martin F. Mack and Branden T. Sisca, the two fallen Pennsylvania State Police troopers tragically killed in the line of duty on I-95 South in Philadelphia. Most of the money raised went to telemarketing 87 percent and other expenses. So have we all. Sara Kemerer of the . "But I'm sure there are a lot that are not on the level, so you kind of have to be cautious," she said. 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. 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.. Another law enforcement charity that faced disciplinary action was the American Association of State Troopers, which was fined a total of $321,115 in three states - Georgia, Mississippi and Pennsylvania. The rule of law is being eroded in our communities, and we need true Americans to stand up and join voices in support of the public servants who keep us safe. 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. On its donate page, the NPA boasts of its work to preserve the American way of life and fight back against cop-haters. We are just passing along the information if you get a suspicious call asking for money for police officers.. This Florida-based union touts its federal lobbying efforts on behalf of local members. For example, a very well known and respected group is the Make a Wish Foundation. I received a phone call asking me to donate to National Police Support Fund I was going to give them my debit card number over the phone but changed my mind at the last moment. AiThority Interview with Lori Anne, Director of Product Development & Management at Verizon, Branded Caller ID: The Pros And Cons In The Battle Against Phone Scams, A New Scam Is Making the Rounds Just in Time for Tax Season, Smishing: The new year is here and so are new scams. 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 . JW August is a San Diego-based broadcast and digital journalist. It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one "association," two "coalitions" and one "support fund"). This section is used to influence public opinion in support of the interests of . I did satisfy my rather small donation at their website https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com . I told him that there is no such thing as a National Police Trust Fund. Msg&data rates may apply. Super PACs are able to raise unlimited amounts of money, which they can use to advocate for political candidates or causes. The National Police Association files amicus brief opposing Oregon's attempt to criminalize law abiding gun owners. The matter now heads to the Senate, where the disapproval resolution may pass if every Republican plus rebellious Democratic Senator Joe Manchin (W.Va.) support the effort. A Warner Bros. 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. This includes marketing and outreach to supporters and communities, grassroots political efforts, and digital marketing efforts. It spent $103,700 on behalf of House candidates about 3% of the total, and it has contributed nothing directly to veterans groups. National Police Support Fund - Alexandria, VA. An elderly man in Trenton, Mi., received a dire letter that warned of the greatest threats to our public safety in our nations history. Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. 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. 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. 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. Wendy is fine with that and will sleep better now. See the metrics below for more information. 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. Just hang up. We don't engage in telemarketing. We are entering the crucial last minutes of our ongoing struggle to defend police officers. Here are some things you can do to avoid donating to a fake charity: Pay attention to the charity's name. nationalpolice.org. You May Like: Do You Need A Degree To Become A Police Officer. The charitys affiliation with the government. The Police and Troopers Relief Foundation (PTRF) is a special program within the Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund (LEORF), established by the International Union of Police Associations. The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. Email Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken. Find out now: How much do I need to save for retirement? But whats the truth. The calls, which often target elderly donors, come from a variety of generic and similar-sounding aliases: The Police Officers Support Association, the National Emergency Responders Coalition and the National Coalition for Police & Troopers. 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. AARP Membership - LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee.Paid for by National Police Support Fund, Inc. |Privacy & Refund Policy| Sitemap, Biggest Issues Facing Police Officers Today. Ask for information, check sites like Charitynavigator.org and then if it all checks out, write that check. I said I do not donate over the phone, he said I did not need to they would mail me a pledge kit. 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). The solution, the letter says, is clear: Give our law enforcement officers the crime prevention tools they need. 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 . These Are the 9 Best Charities for Law Enforcement in 2023. Clint Bates. Join AARP for just $9 per yearwhen you sign up for a 5-year term. Multiple voices could be heard in the background. Multiple attempted calls from one number. 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. Hispanic Federation (New York City) Abandoned Children's Fund. . 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. If your phone rings, it's not us. I started rifling through my mail as he gave me the same exact spiel this time saying he represented United Police support fund. 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. 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. A: A 527 political organization is a party committee, association, fund, or other organization organized and operated primarily for the purpose of directly or indirectly accepting contributions or making expenditures for an exempt function. One of the more successful scams is when the scammer poses as one of many charities benefitting Law Enforcement. For anyone interested in supporting law enforcement, experts say, think local. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try All Rights Reserved. : r/Scams. Email us: watchdog@cnn.com. 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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. He instead provided me with their national number. 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. The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League was founded in 1940 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Is National police Support Fund legit? According to an analysis by The Center for Public Integrity (CFPI), the names of some of these "scam PACs" are listed below. He organized the Police Unity Tour as a fundraising event to honor members of law enforcement who had lost their lives in the line of service. National Police Support Fund representatives have been phoning potential donors in the St. Louis area over the past several weeks, including the wife of a retired police officer who said she . 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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. The National Police Association is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, IRS NTEE classification code B01, Alliance/Advocacy Organizations, within the Educational . The group's videos have received few views, but money has been pouring in. Many legitimate charities support local firefighters and police, active duty military, and veterans, or their families. I asked for the number so I could call back after I made my decision and he gave me the 1-866 number and said to call with any questions and thanked me for my time. So, the next time you get this call, hang up. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. It only means they do not seek to make a profit on their activities. A warning tonight about a phone and mail scam asking for donations. When I googled the fund, a BBB caution was the first result. 2023 Cable News Network. 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 was donating to anyone who asked him for money, he said. Just want you notified that they are calling on area code 203 #s in CT now. You read that correctly. It also transferred $30,000 to another pro-police super PAC that the union operates, based on the officers listed on its filings. About $1.8 million went toward the salaries of union officials, including $199,700 for Cabral, the president. Help us grow with a monthly contribution. 2019 - The South African Department of Employment & Labour Disclaimer PAIA She said she was told the group was a charity benefiting police and troopers. 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.
is national police support fund legit