is national police support fund legit

About $1.8 million went toward the salaries of union officials, including $199,700 for Cabral, the president. Why does this matter? Police Unity Tour. 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 . Also Check: How To File A Police Report For Id Theft, You May Like: How Do Police Deal With Homeless. Wow! "My brother was a police officer, my cousin was a cop and one of my sons is a cop," she said. Our grassroots organization was formed under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows us to engage in political activity. I said no i was told I would be sent a pledge form. ThePAC, organized by Zachary Bass, spent 90% of its take on fundraising, campaign filings show. "As Pennsylvanians look to support [] . As Smarter Giving notes, what is actually supports is the bank balances of its chief executives. He seemed okay with it. How a donation will be used, or how much of the donation actually goes to the charitys programs. Also Check: Do You Have To Pay For A Police Report. Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. This organization spends the vast majority of its donations on children. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. 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. When I googled the fund, a BBB caution was the first result. 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. By choosing the . He said his father has always leaned heavily Democratic, supported President Barack Obama and previously expressed strong anti-Trump views. At times, I thought they were maybe misguided, he said. It also concerned him that so many prospects were elderly. Gotten calls like this? Recommended Reading: How To Become A Desk Police Officer, Also Check: Can Police Help Me Unlock My Car. It only means they do not seek to make a profit on their activities. he transferred me to check my address. 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. Msg&data rates may apply. At least seven local police departments from around the country and a state attorney general have issued scam alerts and other notices about these fundraising efforts, warning residents in their communities as recently as this summer that they have no affiliation with this group. 2023 Cable News Network. Hope Cancer Fund The Tampa Bay Times and The Center for Investigative Reporting broke the charities up into five main categories: children, cancer, police/law enforcement, veterans, fire and other. Groups like Antifa and Black Lives Matter have inspired people to assassinate cops on the street. They do disclose, however, that of the nearly $10 million raised, the super PAC gave more money back to the union roughly $350,000 for office, operational and overhead expenses than the $173,500 it spent on political activities between January 2019 and June 2020. National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. "The National Police Support Fund is neither a 501(c)3 nor a 501(c)4 organization, but rather a political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. 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. Ask for information, check sites like Charitynavigator.org and then if it all checks out, write that check. Today, the organization has over 300 chapters across the country working to create positive change in local communities. See the metrics below for more information. Read Also: What Are The Best Police Boots, Read Also: How Do I Become A K9 Police Officer. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation (Triangle, Va.) Committee for Missing Children (Lawrenceville, Ga.) Prevent Child . The funds raised during their 4-day long ride are donated directly to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. We strive to engage the public through political grassroots activity to support political interests that promote officer's interests. Now, the last thing I want to do is discourage you from giving to causes you care about, like supporting police. The fundraisers connection to the charity. 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. He could not answer. But their website and solicitations are designed to look and sound like Make a Wish. Another useful fact: Organizations that file reports with the FEC have to list a treasurer. 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. He gave a range of donations to be made . 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. That means of a $35 donation, no more than $3.50 goes to their stated cause, highest-volume phone messages in most major U.S. markets. What should we investigate next? I said I do not donate over the phone, he said I did not need to they would mail me a pledge kit. So what happened to the other approximately 33% of . 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. Now those same anarchists that rioted and assaulted law enforcement officers are using the Taliban playbook by destroying public statues and monuments while advocating for defunding law enforcement agencies, a narrator states in a video from July, as protests continued across the country. Gotten calls like this? The caller said he was phoning on behalf of the Committee for Police Officers Defense. Wendy Beckman got a call the other day from a man asking her to help retired police and firefighters. Get a FREE subscription to AARP The Magazine. But whats the truth. Also in Massachusetts, a Wilmington police officer received a call soliciting donations. Consumer Protection. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. As a result, he had a positive outlook on military and all law enforcement officers, Busse said, but he never expressed any particular interest in supporting the police through financial donations.. He said that although it is more expensive for super PACs to solicit small donations which is what this one is doing spending so much on operations and so little on political activities is unusual. January 11, 2019. This all looks very peculiar, said Richard Briffault, a professor at Columbia Law School who specializes in campaign finance. This includes marketing and outreach to supporters and communities, grassroots political efforts, and digital marketing efforts. If you are still not sure if your money is really going to the cause, call your local police or fire department and ask how you can donate to them. Montana Attorney General Tim Fox posted on Facebook last year about a call he received from Roy on behalf of the National Coalition for Police and Troopers. 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). And the Morton Police Department in Illinois posted on Facebook about calls from a mysterious phone number with a local area code last year. Terms & conditions/privacy policy apply https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com/terms-of-service/, Contributions to the National Police Support Fund are not tax deductible. One woman received a call from the . Read Also: What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer. Tax records show the Fotis organization that phoned me raised $75,000 in 2021, up from $50,000 the year before. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. It spent $103,700 on behalf of House candidates about 3% of the total, and it has contributed nothing directly to veterans groups. If the potential donors suspected they had given to the group before, the callers were instructed to say: I have no way of knowing because we feel that donations are given from the heart, not the hand, so we keep all donation records confidential, according to the FAQ. 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. Three other IUPA executives earned more than $100,000 apiece during fiscal 2017-2018. He instead provided me with their national number. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. For the record, on their website, it never calls itself a charity or non . But other charities lie about what they do with donations or how much they spend on programs. National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues. Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. 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. Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. Did you encounter any technical issues? Eagerly he asked if I was comfortable with that amount. 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. Go to their website and give there or call the number listed. . If you want fundraisers to stop calling, ask them to put you on the charitys do not call list. When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. 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. Learn how vehicle tech like blind spot warnings and drowsy driving alerts can help make driving safer. The National Police Association advocates Support the Police, and Back the Blue, because Blue Lives Matter. I did not feel comfortable giving the information over the phone . One Daughters Fight Against Charity Fraud, Exclusive Walgreens Cash rewards for members, AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia: Vacation Packages, Members save when booking a flight vacation package, AARP Identity Theft Protection powered by Norton, Up to 53% off comprehensive protection plans, AARP Online Fitness powered by LIFT session, Customized workouts designed around your goals and schedule, SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS. Just change the state to your state and verify the charity is listed with your state attorney general's office, or another regulatory office (each state has different requirements). 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. Woman suspicious after calls to help police. Many legitimate charities support local firefighters and police, active duty military, and veterans, or their families. The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. What they do: The National Association of Police Athletic/Activities League aims to minimize juvenile crime through outreach programs that pair officers with youth. SCAM: National Police Support Fund donation. It wasnt the usual automated call, and hearing a human voice kept me on the line. The former employee, who asked to remain anonymous because of a nondisclosure agreement, said he remembered fundraising companies outsourcing some of the telemarketing overseas to locations like the Philippines, where they relied on recordings instead of live agents. 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. Getting 3 to 5 calls a day from 315-410-0874 phone number. Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. On its donate page, the NPA boasts of its work to preserve the American way of life and fight back against cop-haters. Type of a scam Charity. Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. The application also included the name Police Officers Defense Coalition, as well as the Police Officers Defense Alliance. They are the tragi-charities. Recommended Reading: How Many Hours To Become A Police Officer, Read Also: What Education Do I Need To Be A Police Officer. If you get one of these calls, do not donate money just hang . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Use a search engine to look for " your state + charity list ". Filed Jan. 29, 2020, 3:45 p.m. GMT. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Just want you notified that they are calling on area code 203 #s in CT now. 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. 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. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. The organization began as a service program providing mentorship and outreach activities to youth as a way to combat juvenile crime. I quickly identified over 70 super PACs with police or law enforcement in their names. Its made up of series of regular steps timed to the beat of the music that can be improvised as needed. Law Enforcement for a Safer America has raked in nearly $10 million in donations from January 2019 to June 2020 . 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. Charities face relatively rigorous review from the Internal Revenue Service, and most states require them to register before they can operate there. Another charity that should come with a "donator, beware" sign is the Police Protection Fund. And soon, you say, sure, why not? @GunOwners. He initially solicited $95 and eventually said he would accept a $15 contribution as an offer of goodwill on my part. Here are some things you can do to avoid donating to a fake charity: Pay attention to the charity's name. Promoting divisive rhetoric is detrimental to the public safety mission that requires any genuine law enforcement organization to be accountable to its constituents. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. The man on the other end of the phone is asking for money for the protection of police officers. They count on local press coverage and a quick website. A warning tonight about a phone and mail scam asking for donations. The call came to Get Gephardt to investigate who exactly it is that's making those calls. The National Police Support Fund is a national coalition committed to promoting the interests of America's. 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. It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. Unable to verify the federal tax ID, redirected to a toll-free number. To promote the prevention of juvenile crime and violence by building relationships among kids, cops and community through positive engagement. 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. Legitimate charities can be checked on websites such as www.guidestar.org. Ask if the donation is tax-deductible.