National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. This comes at a time when some community activists have been calling for defunding the police. 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. A: The National Police Support Fund is a grassroots nonprofit political organization founded in 2017 under Section 527 of the IRS tax code. I found a few small line items labeled legislative services, but none that appeared to go directly to supporting police. Has anyone else recently seen an uptick and calls from various police support organizations? The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. So we can Verify, National Coalition for Police and Troopers is a site owned by a PAC, isn't a charitable organization. Wendy is fine with that and will sleep better now. He also wanted to highlight law enforcements hard work across the country. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The scenario is all too familiar. Busse said he and his sister took over their fathers finances last year. 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. So what happened to the other approximately 33% of . What should we investigate next? 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. I've asked them repeatedly to stop calling this typically results in additional calls back to back from different numbers. The application also included the name Police Officers Defense Coalition, as well as the Police Officers Defense Alliance. You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. Another useful fact: Organizations that file reports with the FEC have to list a treasurer. Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. 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. 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. Filed Jan. 29, 2020, 3:45 p.m. GMT. Some tips for consumers: Listen carefully for the name of the organization. After I rejected he offered some booster donations of 15,25, 35 dollars to Goodwill or other organizations. I also learned that they were sued in the biggest FTC case in history. On each call, my questions about how donations got spent mostly went unanswered. Phony Firefighters Scam. So have we all. generic photos, there is no real content validating that they do anything to actually support the police. At times, I thought they were maybe misguided, he said. Law Enforcement for a Safer America has raked in nearly $10 million in donations from January 2019 to June 2020 . He could not answer. A charity is only one type of nonprofit. What can we learn from the latest Coinbase cyberattack? The caller said he was phoning on behalf of the Committee for Police Officers Defense. 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). In researching the organizations, I discovered numerous similar-sounding names for PACs raising funds for police officers. And it's very easy to catch the eye of someone.". Whoops! The National Police Association files amicus brief opposing Oregon's attempt to criminalize law abiding gun owners. Just hang up. That means of a $35 donation, no more than $3.50 goes to their stated cause. Contact us: contact@knowyourpolice.net, SCAM: National Police Support Fund donation, How To Get Insurance Information From Police Report, Is National Police Association Legitimate, How Many Years Of College To Become A Police Officer, Do You Need A Degree To Become A Police Officer, What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer, How Many Hours To Become A Police Officer, What Education Do I Need To Be A Police Officer, How Do You Know If The Police Are Investigating You. Why does this matter? Watch out for a new "police support fund" scam. Many donors say they believed they were supporting a charity that helps local officers. Please do your homework and avoid scams and misleading appeals for your hard-earned money.. The IRS has pretty broad rules for being a nonprofit organization. Required fields are marked *. 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. Javascript must be enabled to use this site. To raise awareness of Law Enforcement Officers who have died in the line of duty. Read Also: What Are The Steps To Becoming A Police Officer. I recently took about a dozen of these police-support calls to hear the pitches. California resident Kellie Van Westen, 69, said she has family members who are law enforcement officers and that she believed the roughly $1,400 she donated since 2019 would help bolster local police budgets and pay for equipment to keep them safe.. and our Operators who are so susprised it's scam. . About $1.8 million went toward the salaries of union officials, including $199,700 for Cabral, the president. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. So, the next time you get this call, hang up. With everything that's happening this pandemic year, people are getting more and more calls to support their local police. January 11, 2019. As we stated earlier, these 50 charities account for almost $1 Billion in donations. 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. 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. 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. I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive. 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. One woman received a call from the . The Better Business Bureau conducted an investigation and found . For anyone interested in supporting law enforcement, experts say, think local. And that is likely the point. The National Police Support Fund is a national coalition committed to promoting the interests of America's. The NPAs immigration proposalAuthorizing local law enforcement officers to perform federal immigration law enforcement functionsis based on fear-mongering and a clear recipe for abuse and division. I received a call today from someone from The National Police Support Fund, who claimed to be collecting money for a drive. 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. They count on local press coverage and a quick website. The National Police Support Fund is a legitimate organization that supports the interests of America's law enforcement officers. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. If you require additional information, then call us 1-800-247-4872 or email us at: Your contribution is very much appreciated and although the International Union of Police Association is recognized as a non-profit by the IRS, due to its particular status 5), donations are not tax deductible pursuant to IRC 170(c. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained by writing to: The International Union of Police Associations, 5632 Bee Ridge Road, Suite 200 Sarasota, FL . But these telemarketers bombarding our phone lines? Simple: less scrutiny. They are the tragi-charities. The first thing I noticed was that I wasnt talking to live people; the answers all sounded scripted and recorded. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. Below are our favorite charities for law enforcement: National Police Foundation. But then she started to worry, especially when she couldn't find the group listed as a charity anywhere online. Fake joke to start out. The call came to Get Gephardt to investigate who exactly it is that's making those calls. The safest way to donate on social media or crowdfunding campaign is to give to people you actually know. A warning tonight about calls targeting people around the Tri-State asking them to help support the police. 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 was contacted in Wilton, CT by representatives of the National Police Support Fund. Simple web searches can show that the 'charitable organization' calling either 1 . Instead, theyre independent, expenditure-only political action committees, or super PACs. 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. 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. Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). We strive to engage the public through political grassroots activity to support political interests that promote officer's interests. If you get one of these calls, do not donate money just hang . He gave a range of donations to be made . 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. The robot voice saying the call would be recorded for record purposes sounded so real but it was just him. AARP Membership LIMITED TIME FLASH SALE. 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. We highly encourage our followers to verify who they are making donations to when contacted for fundraisers.. I started rifling through my mail as he gave me the same exact spiel this time saying he represented United Police support fund. And Law Enforcement for a Safer America appears to be cashing in. Trade groups like those that represent the fast food or soft drink producers operate as nonprofits. 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. It said callers were soliciting support for police officers but that the group was actually connected to a political action committee. It appears there are a number of nonprofits up and running under the apparent control of Fotis. These Are the 9 Best Charities for Law Enforcement in 2023. If it is a scam they are awfully convincing on the phone but are also rather forceful. Most of the money raised went to telemarketing 87 percent and other expenses. The man on the other end of the phone is asking for money for the protection of police officers. 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. Read our full report on the organization here, https://bit.ly/3xMbldo. In the report, National Police Support Fund reported about $61,000 in . Also Check: How To File A Police Report For Id Theft, You May Like: How Do Police Deal With Homeless. Stated that donations were not tax-deductible. Up until the latest tax year when the groups appear to have changed how they categorize certain expenditures the pattern was largely the same from year to year: A small number of families received a couple thousand dollars apiece top employees of the union received more than $100,000 apiece and tens of millions went to telemarketers. Recommended Reading: How Many Hours To Become A Police Officer, Read Also: What Education Do I Need To Be A Police Officer. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. 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. Charity hustles work the same way. 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. 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. "But I'm sure there are a lot that are not on the level, so you kind of have to be cautious," she said. As our conversation continued, the caller would lower the amount of funding he was requesting. 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. Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney, For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com. Can the police officers count on you?. But the groups file financial disclosures with federal regulators under only a handful of names. The group's videos have received few views, but money has been pouring in. 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. Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. 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 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. Super PACs are able to raise unlimited amounts of money, which they can use to advocate for political candidates or causes. In the case of National Police Support Fund, we accept contributions and make expenditures in order to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of candidates to federal, state, and local offices. Each organization says it is spending money for police officers being abused and unfairly targeted. 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. 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. If they are PACs, the fundraising effort is politically motivated and wont necessarily support San Diego-area officers or deputies or their families. And some are outright scams. 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. See the metrics below for more information. The latter is the name of the PAC I found earlier that had raised $3.2 million in contributions. What they do: ThePolice Unity Tour raises funds and awareness for members of law enforcement who lost their lives during their service. Wendy Beckman got a call the other day from a man asking her to help retired police and firefighters. The charitys affiliation with the government. he transferred me to check my address. 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. It was found that only 2.7% of donations to the relief fund actually went to the families of fallen officers. It's always a variation of the above name. Not authorized by any candidate or . 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. It wasnt the usual automated call, and hearing a human voice kept me on the line. . Nonprofit however does not mean they are a charity. 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. @GunOwners. The I.U.P.A. I told him I did not have any money to donate at the moment. American Association of State Troopers claims to support retired state troopers. Around 200 consumer complaints have also been made to state and federal regulators about the super PAC, its aliases and related groups. The I.U.P.A. 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. 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. Political organizations including both the Democratic and Republican parties are nonprofits. Just want you notified that they are calling on area code 203 #s in CT now. 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. I told him that I had some questions for him before I would donate. Promoting divisive rhetoric is detrimental to the public safety mission that requires any genuine law enforcement organization to be accountable to its constituents. 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. But their website and solicitations are designed to look and sound like Make a Wish. In a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, another woman, whose name was redacted, said she received multiple calls from the National Coalition for Police and Troopers, one of the super PACs various aliases. The answer is that, in many cases, these arent charities at all. People are receiving phone scam calls asking for donations to help out local police departments or slain and wounded police offers. It only means they do not seek to make a profit on their activities. JW August is a San Diego-based broadcast and digital journalist. Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. We found a website for them, but it gives very little information about the organization and their mission. Is National police Support Fund legit? Please enable Javascript in your browser and try 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.
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