Registration with any of these state agencies does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by any state. 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. This is a multi-location business. Recommended Reading: How Many Hours To Become A Police Officer. The organization did submit to me a statement. Police are warning about a scam that could show up in your mail. The solution, the letter says, is clear: Give our law enforcement officers the crime prevention tools they need. He continued to try to get my credit card info but finally agreed to mail something. [named redacted] 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. It appears there are a number of nonprofits up and running under the apparent control of Fotis. The National Police Associations website says it is a 501 3 non-profit, but its come under fire from multiple police departments across the country, who say it is a scam. It looks like a money making scheme for fundraisers. They will fight for your safety and support law Website built and maintained by NEP Services 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. I am just concerned because of course I want to help our local police officers but I am concerned of scamsof which I have been in the past as well as attempts. She then asked if I would pay an additional $5 for mailing. Out of $13.9 million raised in 2020, Law Enforcement for a Safer America reportedly only spent $543,177 on political activity, with the remaining funds being spent on vaguely defined fundraising and administrative expenditures, per data obtained by OpenSecrets.org. The Reading Police Department in Massachusetts described the Police Officers Support Association as a "scam 'charity'" last year. BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. You can find more information about who is the National Police Support Fund here. The Police Officer Support Team was established by Milwaukee Police Officers in 1986 after the death of two MPD officers killed in the line of duty, and it serves ALL members of the Law Enforcement Community, officers returning from or in active Military duty, and their families, regardless of jurisdiction or department. Emergency 911 Please join us in supporting DCI Agent Mark Wagner. Please enter your Pledge ID and Zip Code. It also lists an address for itself in Washington, DC. Donor is not a foreign national who lacks permanent resident status in the United States. Milwaukee Police Association Milwaukee Police Association RESPECT - DEDICATION - COMMITMENT Donate Stay Connected Protecting and Serving Our Community Who We Are MPA News Our History Golf Outing Honor and Service OUR FALLEN HEROES "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 Learn More Latest News 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. American Police Officers Alliance is a national political organization in Arlington, VA organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. We meet regularly with elected Congressmen and Senators to improve both police officer safety and the safety and security in our communities. Its also possible that theyre one and the same entity and Police Officers Support Association is just a cover for the real organization for plausible deniability or other purposes. He said his father has always leaned heavily Democratic, supported President Barack Obama and previously expressed strong anti-Trump views. 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. When confronted by a retired police officer, the caller hung up. Another telemarketing employee reached by CNN in the Philippines confirmed this, saying he solicited money on behalf of the super PAC and the IUPA using audio recordings of someone who sounded like they were actually calling from America, and that most of the people they reached were elderly adding he felt it was a scam because they didnt realize what they were actually donating to. 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. What should we investigate next? Our mission is to promote the interests of our nation's police officers within our nation's political and public policy process. Source: Police Officers Support Association 2023, International Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., separately incorporated Better Business Bureau organizations in the US, Canada and Mexico and BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. All rights reserved. It also lists an address for itself in Washington, DC. 2023 Cable News Network. Super PACs are able to raise unlimited amounts of money, which they can use to advocate for political candidates or causes. IndyStar could not find records for anyone with Coltons or Musungus names who might have a role with the National Police Association. Its fairly smart of perpetrators to keep the dollar amount low, and that makes a lot of people fall for it, because $20 doesnt really raise those red flags, the sergeant said. Berns is among three names that show up in National Police Association documents and correspondence whose official roles with the organization could not be verified by IndyStar. And the Morton Police Department in Illinois posted on Facebook about calls from a mysterious phone number with a local area code last year. Hes always got something going like that, Berns told The Sun. Police Officers Support Association PAC: The computerized voice then started another spiel, and I hung up the phone. This was the most recent fake number they used, 831-708-6333. Per the Police Officers Support Association website, it is a Political Action Committee and states, The PAC advocates for legislative efforts to improve the safety and wellness of Law Enforcement Officers. It's all about the recipe. Until recently, the National Police Association listed a treasurer named Arnold Musungu, whose name is also spelled as Munsungu in some filings. Contributions to the Police Officers Support Association PAC are not charitable contributions and are not deductible as charitable contributions for state and federal income tax purposes. 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. 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.. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. The rest of the money has gone primarily to the firms helping it solicit donations including nearly $3 million in payments to one telemarketing company sued by the government last month for allegedly using deceptive tactics. for 30 days. PAC Enrollment Information If you would like to contribute to PAC, click the link below to download a PAC card and return it to the DPA at the address listed: Dallas Police Association 1412 Griffin Street East Dallas, Texas 75215 PAC Enrollment Form Political Sponsors Governor: Greg Abbott (R) LT Governor: Dan Patrick (R) Speaker of the House: All the alarm bells went off too. Lesson learned. The National Police Association is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, IRS NTEE classification code B01, Alliance/Advocacy Organizations, within the Educational Organizations category, EIN 82-0647764, founded to educate supporters of law enforcement in how to help police departments accomplish their goals. I HAVE BEEN HIT WITH A LARGE BILL. It is not even listed, much less rated, by 1) Charity Watch, 2) Charity Navigator, 3) the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, or 4) or Consumer Reports Best Charities List. & A: The National Police Support Fund is a grassroots nonprofit political organization founded in 2017 under Section 527 of the IRS tax code. These people are disgusting. The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police unions and associations from across the United States and was organized for the purpose of advancing the interests of America's law enforcement officers through legislative advocacy, political action and education. I said no but I will mail you a check. Stuebs has assisted in the management of fundraising for state senate/legislative campaigns in Wisconsin. Gas station secured small business bailout money, then paid for Trump billboards, After learning from CNN that his 92-year-old father had given $1,200 to the super PAC, Curt Busse said that the donations were made as his fathers cognitive skills declined, making him a prime target for telemarketers. 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. Though theyre intercepted by my computer and I usually dont get to hear more than a few seconds of the call, I think its a live person reading from a script rather than a recording (though Im not certain). Answer (1 of 8): I recently received calls from a very similar organization, Police & Sheriff's Support Alliance (PSSA). For one such reference, please refer to https://www.scampulse.com/police-officers-support-association-reviews. The PAC carries the voice of the membership and advocates for legislation, benefits, and working conditions for our city's police officers. International Union of Police Associations Web site: iupa.org (104.28.31.104) - masked by Cloudflare The caller explains that the goal of this nonprofit is to help the families of fallen officers. for 30 days, $18.64 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. 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.. The technology would be amazing if it were used for good instead of evil. Interestingly, Google Maps shows International Union of Police Associations at that address. 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. The Police Officers Support Association PAC (POSA) is a political action committee that was created in order to support pro-police candidates and causes. Crime Stoppers (414) 771-8672. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. 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 National Police Association is a SCAM. Dont fall for it! Heres how the scam works: an unsolicited call shows up on the Caller ID from someone claiming to be representing a nonprofit organization. If you do not have your Pledge IDClick Here. You May Like: How Long Does Take To Be A Police Officer. Copy to clipboard. An image from Law Enforcement For A Safer America PAC's Facebook page. It is especially detailed about the model of the business and partners. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Time and time again we hear about people losing thousands of dollars to phone scams. The Riley County Police Department says a new scam hitting Manhattan mailboxes asks for donations to the National Police Association. 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. Paid for by Law Enforcement for a Safer America PAC, an independent expenditure-only committee, www.leoforasaferamerica.org and not authorized by any candidate committee. RCPD says the association has generated letters in the area with claims they give law enforcement the crime prevention tools they need. 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. I appreciate your time thank you concerned customer. The Police Foundation, dba National Police Foundation, does NOT solicit donations from anyone via phone. However, some State and local FOP lodges do. Your generous contributions will provide resources for our PAC to identify and support those candidates who will push hard for: Every contribution helps, no matter what the amount. 2 -To earn a competitive salary. The union is run by a retired police detective, and it is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the countrys biggest federation of unions, which did not respond to requests for comment. 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. 2022 The Police Officers Support Association. He specifically said that this was to support the police officers, which I thought was a good cause, so I said yes. Philadelphia-based Protect Our Police PAC, otherwise known as POP PAC, launched Wednesday and is raising funds to put toward endorsed "pro-police candidates" and "independent expenditures. Stay up-to-date with the Milwaukee PA by joining our mailing list below. Three other IUPA executives earned more than $100,000 apiece during fiscal 2017-2018. National Police Support Fund. A couple weeks ago I received another call from the police officers support association and asked me about my $20 payment. RCPD says its a scam and that money raised by this organization doesnt actually go to any local law enforcement initiatives. Home delivery of The Union every Tuesday - Saturday in the following zip codes: 95602, 95712, 95713, 95922, 95924, 95945, 95946, 95949, 95959, 95960, 95975, 95977, 95986. But the groups file financial disclosures with federal regulators under only a handful of names. 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 call was spoofed to appear to be from 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. I have letters here from them after they called me. So far theyve called from these numbers: (516) 206-3928 Where did you retrieve this information? That doesnt even make sense. But now here is something else that I found on the back of the letter. Hutchison said in a statement to IndyStar that he approached Berns about joining the organization in 2017, but soon after there were other events whereby it was determined it wasnt for the best. I forgot to submit the payment. We also encourage you to require donation information to be sent to you via U.S. Mail before considering any donation. Many donors say they believed they were supporting a charity that helps local officers. (619) 439-0065 The likelihood that well catch someone for this goes up once were able to link these cases together. He asked for my credit card information and I told him we do not give our credit card info over the phone, but they could mail an invoice. I test every recipe I post. The individual never answered me and he said for me to go ahead and submit my cashiers check to the address with the form that they submit it to me in the mail Box. BBB recommends that consumers check with the BBBs charity arm, Give.org, before donating to any charity or organization. But I do not know where this organization it grounded, and who organizes and what they want the money for? I told them again that I had forgotten about it and that I would sit in into them as soon as possible. While there are no requirements dictating the percentage of money that must go toward political activities, campaign finance expert Rob Pyers has dubbed the group a Scam PAC because of its high operating expenses and negligible political spending. . Our officers deserve our respect and support, the Super PACs website reads. We meet regularly with elected Congressmen and Senators to improve both police officer safety and the safety and security in our communities. A special program within the International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO.Speaking With One Voice, Moving With One Purpose. 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. Bates said that anyone who suspects that theyve been the victim of fraud, either by mail, the internet or through other means, should report the crime to the FBIs website on the subject, at www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety. Also in Massachusetts, a Wilmington police officer received a call soliciting donations. Post has been removed or is no longer public. To show your support, you may consider making a donation when a fund-raiser calls from a fire or police service organization. The second time I asked, he said, I am a live human being but am using technology which prevents scripted responses. What? According to the report, the caller said he was able to take a donation for the fundraising effort immediately, right over the phone with a credit card, even transferring the citizen to a woman. It also transferred $30,000 to another pro-police super PAC that the union operates, based on the officers listed on its filings. The telephone number listed on the companys website, 800-758-9503 is disconnected as of October 26, 2020. According to Bates, the "Police Officers Support Association" appears to be a facade for a political entity whose actual name is "Law Enforcement for a Safer America, PAC." The organization is widely considered to be a "Scam PAC," with only a fraction of donated funds actually going towards pro-police activity. Read Also: Can Police Pull You Over For No Insurance. The Police Association of Connecticut was formed in 1902, "for the protection and promotion of the welfare of the police officers of Connecticut; the improvement of their facilities to render to the public, whose servants they are, the most efficient possible service; the compilation of police statistics; the collection of information concerning the practical working of different systems of . 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. She had noticed the term PAC on receipts she received in the mail but thought that meant the charities were working together and had a pact to support the police cause she believed in. If you have children, Im wondering if you would be proud to have them know that your job essentially consists of trying to scam people out of their money. Their website is a joke. Paid for by Law Enforcement for a Safer America PAC, an independent expenditure-only committee, www.leoforasaferamerica.org (not a charity) and not authorized by any candidate committee. The Committee for Police Officers Defense, the telemarketers who called me, applied for tax exemption in California. The Police Officers Support Alliance shows every indication of being a scam. Donate and support the American Police Officers Alliance in our mission to fight for those who protect our nation's citizens. The NPA website contains information that includes far-right leaning rhetoric. 80s trivia questions multiple choice . 2. If you read my other enclosed correspondence, dated 20 November 2020, you will note that I, albeit reluctantly, planned on honoring my $15 pledge, as per our 6 November 2020 telephone conversation. While its good practice for people to inform police if they receive the fraudulent donation form, Bates also said that it is even more important for scam victims to report these cases to the FBI, which conducts more sweeping nationwide investigations into the groups behind fraudulent financial schemes. It will bring me a bit of satisfaction to mail that correspondence tomorrow! 3. north dakota dental association classifieds; vivienne westwood earrings clearpay; aviation team names; gresty's waste history. Standard. We found a website for them, but it gives very little information about the organization and their mission. How BBB Processes Complaints and Reviews. But none of the money being raised actually goes to police departments, according to government records. 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That correspondence tomorrow paid for by law enforcement for a Safer America PAC 's Facebook page organization Arlington... As of October 26, 2020 How you can find more information about who is the National Police Fund! Give.Org, before donating to any local law enforcement for a Safer America PAC 's Facebook page this. This was the most recent fake number they used, 831-708-6333, dba Police! Pac: the computerized voice then started another spiel, and I hung up and I up! The Riley County Police Department says a new scam hitting Manhattan mailboxes asks for donations to the National Association... Find more information about who is the National Police Foundation, dba National police officers support association pac milwaukee Association or.! To you via U.S. mail before considering any donation longer public before donating to any local law initiatives..., supported President Barack Obama and previously expressed strong anti-Trump views National political organization Arlington... 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