When I asked which state this drive was for, the caller could not answer and instead said it is for a national charity. 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. The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. The National Police Association is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, IRS NTEE classification code B01, Alliance/Advocacy Organizations, within the Educational . That way, you avoid all of . The recording says it is "Kenneth Allen from the National Police Support Fund" and they are asking for donations. 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. I told him that there is no such thing as a National Police Trust Fund. 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. To promote the prevention of juvenile crime and violence by building relationships among kids, cops and community through positive engagement. For more information, please refer to the IRS definition of Political Organization. How much do I need to save for retirement? Simple web searches can show that the 'charitable organization' calling either 1 . Have a problem?Send me an email, at jmatarese@wcpo.com or message me on Facebook. Asking for donations to the National Police Support Fund. It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. Beware: That Call for Police Donations May Be from a Political Action Is National police Support Fund legit? American Association of State Troopers claims to support retired state troopers. Verify: Law enforcement charity phone calls - KSDK Police Unity Tour. 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). The solution, the letter says, is clear: Give our law enforcement officers the crime prevention tools they need. So, the next time you get this call, hang up. Law enforcement has a tough enough job without having to put up with charlatans masquerading as heroes. 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. Below are our favorite charities for law enforcement: National Police Foundation. 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. 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 are not tax deductible. AARP Membership LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. Trade groups like those that represent the fast food or soft drink producers operate as nonprofits. (Santa Rosa, Calf.) 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). Ways to contribute: You can contribute to the Police Unity Tour by donating through their website. Dozens of fake charities scammed donations for veterans the pocketed Wendy Beckman got a call the other day from a man asking her to help retired police and firefighters. If it is a scam they are awfully convincing on the phone but are also rather forceful. 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. Contributions made to National Police Support Fund are not tax-deductible. We support police officers who risk their lives daily protecting our communities. I found a few small line items labeled legislative services, but none that appeared to go directly to supporting police. Whoops! 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. 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). Terms & conditions/privacy policy apply https://nationalpolicesupportfund.com/terms-of-service/, Contributions to the National Police Support Fund are not tax deductible. They improvise and evolve to stay one step ahead of unsuspecting donors. 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. 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. We highly encourage our followers to verify who they are making donations to when contacted for fundraisers.. 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 Greenfield, Massachusetts, police department warned about the group last year as well. They are the tragi-charities. 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. The I.U.P.A. He said he wanted a contribution for the police department and man and women who are fighting to protect us. You read that correctly. The super PAC said on Facebook in September that it had placed this billboard in multiple locations throughout Wisconsin and that more would be coming. 50 Worst Charities in America: How to Keep From Getting Scammed The application also included the name Police Officers Defense Coalition, as well as the Police Officers Defense Alliance. 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. On its donate page, the NPA boasts of its work to preserve the American way of life and fight back against cop-haters. Help us grow with a monthly contribution. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. Three other IUPA executives earned more than $100,000 apiece during fiscal 2017-2018. Authorities issue warning about pro-police mail scam - The Union 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. As an example, he cites former Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona. While some donors believe they are donating to . It was raising money using four different police-oriented names (one "association," two "coalitions" and one "support fund"). I asked him where the money goes. 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. Around 200 consumer complaints have also been made to state and federal regulators about the super PAC, its aliases and related groups. @GunOwners. 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. At times, I thought they were maybe misguided, he said. People are receiving phone scam calls asking for donations to help out local police departments or slain and wounded police offers. BBB Advises Potential Donors to be Cautious If Solicited by the Woman calls out scammer after hearing about it on the news Fundraising calls are allowed even if your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. The National Police Support Fund is a national coalition committed to promoting the interests of America's. She said she was told the group was a charity benefiting police and troopers. Required fields are marked *. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. It appears there are a number of nonprofits up and running under the apparent control of Fotis. By choosing the . 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. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Simple: less scrutiny. 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. A: The National Police Support Fund is a grassroots nonprofit political organization founded in 2017 under Section 527 of the IRS tax code. A special program within the International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO.Speaking With One Voice, Moving With One Purpose. 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. PPF has been sued by regulatory agencies in at least six states, including California, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, and was fined $463,000. But these telemarketers bombarding our phone lines? The National Police Support Fund : r/Scams - reddit I said I do not donate over the phone, he said I did not need to they would mail me a pledge kit. The cause sounds worthy: Please support your local firefighters (or police officers), the caller implores. Hispanic Federation (New York City) Abandoned Children's Fund. Also Check: How To File A Police Report For Id Theft, You May Like: How Do Police Deal With Homeless. Our movement is comprised of tens of thousands of Americans from all walks of life who are joined together by their common . proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. proudly complies with state regulations and required disclosures. It sounded like the solicitor was calling from a boiler room, where individuals dial from a list of working phone numbers. They count on local press coverage and a quick website. Watch out for a new "police support fund" scam - FourStatesHomepage.com Im calling on behalf of the National Save the Police Fund,* the voice on the phone told me. 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. Fraud Alert! National Police Support Fund - Angie Ward Sadly, it comes down to their choice of words during a pitch; its unlawful to misrepresent how the money will be spent. 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. 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. 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. Gotten calls like this? National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues. Today, the organization has over 300 chapters across the country working to create positive change in local communities. 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. Here are some things you can do to avoid donating to a fake charity: Pay attention to the charity's name. 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. 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. Watch out for a new "police support fund" scam. Home - LEORF 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. "Being that it was a recording right off the bat . After further investigation, they are not approved by the better business bureau and they have nothing but horrible reviews . "My brother was a police officer, my cousin was a cop and one of my sons is a cop," she said. "I got burned a couple of years ago when I found out another charity I was contributing to was not a real charity, so I thought I should probably check this one out," Beckman said. 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.. I looked up one called Law Enforcement for a Safer America PAC, which seemed to be especially active, based on Nomorobos monitoring. Instead, their contributions end up with a super PAC, Law Enforcement for a Safer America, which has ties to a controversial union and spends the majority of its money on its own operating costs. Free online workshop! I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive. 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. 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. Multiple attempted calls from one number. 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.