The calls asking for donations come from aliases like the Police Officers Support Association and The National Coalition for Police & Troopers. Phone Calls for Donations to the Police Could be a Scam. Wauwatosa, WI 53226-0068. . Help us grow with a monthly contribution. 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. Our goal was to ensure these voters . 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. The public has been urged to be cautious after a group named the American Police Officers Alliance (APOA) became active in town again. Our organization works within the political process to defend strong police leadership and interests in our nation's cities and work to elect officials who will stand up for our police force. This company is a non-profit organization that solicits contributions to further their mission. This particular super PACs treasurer is a former cop who was arrested for stealing $50,000 from the police union for which he served as president. The National Policing Institute, a national, Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing policing through science and innovation, has received information from several individuals who have been contacted by solicitors asking for donations in support of the "National Policing Institute," or in some cases the "National Police Fund," which we are not affiliated . The charity is well-known for its annual National Police Week event, which honors law enforcement officers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty. Many of these hurdles speak to the ineffectiveness and complexity of red flag laws. Even if you like the idea, how do you know the call is legitimate? "But I'm sure there are a lot that are not on the level, so you kind of have to be cautious," she said. Virginia incorporation papers show James Fotis is president of the Alliance and changed the name to the Defense Coalition. These callers typically use language that suggests they are charities raising money directly for local police. I looked up one called Law Enforcement for a Safer America PAC, which seemed to be especially active, based on Nomorobos monitoring. We will work to ensure that our officers have the best local leadership possible. Contact Information. We will ensure that police officers maintain their benefits such as retirement pensions and protect their rights from government and politicians that are blatantly anti-police. The caller said he was phoning on behalf of the Committee for Police Officers Defense. This is NOT a nonprofit organization. They tried to get my CC number without even fully explaining who they were (they're a lobbying group). Now, the last thing I want to do is discourage you from giving to causes you care about, like supporting police. The International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) is a North American police union and is chartered as a national union that represents law enforcement and support personnel with the AFL-CIO. We are the voice of those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities. The APA is a respected organization that plays a vital role in advancing the profession of law enforcement. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Another option is to donate to the organization, but only do so if youre actually interested in supporting them. Enter address: This website, like most media sites, uses small files called cookies to anonymously customize the advertising that you see. Defund the police is a slogan that supports divesting funds from police departments and reallocating them to non-policing forms of public safety and community support, such as social services, youth services, housing, education, healthcare and other community resources. The organization was created in the wake of the 2016 presidential election, when many police officers felt that they were being unfairly targeted and vilified by the media and the public. I usually don't answer the phone from numbers I don't know but I wanted to find out who is making these calls to me that I don't know and also don't leave messages and I also wanted to post it on line too so other people would know who is calling them. The PAC is based in Texas and has the stated goal of supporting pro-law enforcement candidates who will make the safety of our communities a top priority.. UNITED POLICE FUND was formed in 2018 as a political nonprofit organization designated under of IRS tax code section 527. American Police Officers Alliance is a political nonprofit, not a charity. Avoid at all costs. Police reminded people to be cautious with phone solicitors and . Its always your choice whether to give your credit card number over the phone. Super PACs are not allowed to contribute directly to candidates or political parties, but they can spend unlimited sums on advertising and other activities to support or oppose candidates. The case has not yet been resolved. Many legitimate charities support local firefighters and police, active duty military, and veterans, or their families. The PAC is funded by donations from police officers and their families, and it has contributed more than $1.5 million to political campaigns over the years. The organization is widely considered to be a "Scam PAC," with only a fraction of donated funds actually going towards pro-police activity. The PAC has come under scrutiny in recent years, with some claiming that it is not a legitimate organization. The first thing I noticed was that I wasnt talking to live people; the answers all sounded scripted and recorded. Each region has a regional director who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the APA in that area. Police Officers Support Association; Public Safety Employees Union 519; . But other charities lie about what they do with donations or how much they spend on programs. However, it is important to understand the background of this PAC and the arguments made by both sides. 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. The algorithm came up with the 76.70 rank by intelligently aggregating 50 relevant factors. If you are unsure about the legitimacy of a contact attempt or believe our name is being without our permission, please emailmembership@americanpoliceofficersalliance.comwith your full name and 10-digit phone number and we can confirm the contact attempt. Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Leaving politics aside for a minute, how do you know if those calls are legitimate? The Police Officers Support Alliance shows every indication of being a scam. It is also important to be aware of scam artists who may try to take advantage of people by pretending to be from the police or another reputable organization. I waited and said don't call me anymore. 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. For anyone interested in supporting law enforcement, experts say, think local. Only one replied directly: 90 percent went to fundraising, and 10 percent went to police support. It's also possible that they're one and the same entity and "Police Officers Support Association" is just a cover for the real organization for "plausible deniability" or other purposes. And the reason no one complains is the small amount of money involved and they also do not want to get entangled in the entire process and going to the court. He adds, Such complaints are normally handled at the Police Commissionerate level. 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 soon, you say, sure, why not? It wasnt the usual automated call, and hearing a human voice kept me on the line. For the record, on their website, it never calls itself a charity or non . If you dont want to donate, you can always tell the caller that youre not interested and ask them not to call you again. Fair. If you get one of these calls, do not donate money just hang . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The National Police Support Fund is a national political organization organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. Many of the largest Super PACs are funded by billionaires and corporations, and they can have a major impact on election campaigns. American Police Officers Alliance is a national political organization in Arlington, VA organized under Section 527 of the IRS Tax Code. AARP Membership $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. With LAPD you may get a wider range of experience as a patrolman and as a detective. "So I really want to support the police for what they do.". Critics argue that the PAC is not actually run by police officers, and that it does not represent the interests of police officers. Our organization works within the political process to defend strong police leadership and interests in our nations cities and work to elect officials who will stand up for our police force. The APOA is a legitimate charity and has been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS. The charity also provides relief to officers who have been injured in the line of duty. The Police Officers Support Alliance does have a website which states that it is registered, not as a charity, but rather as a political organization under the name, For a Better America.. 1.09/5. This is NOT a nonprofit organization. Crime and policing were top of mind for many voters in Florida during the 2022 midterms. This tab shows spending that this committee has made in support of or opposition to a candidate. The Police Officers Support Association (PAC) is a political action committee (PAC) that was created in order to support the campaigns of pro-police candidates. How do I get calls to stop asking for donations? They claim that the PAC is run by police officers, and that it is the only organization of its kind that represents the interests of police officers. Being a generous person, she agreed to mail them $50. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The APOA is well- respected by law enforcement officers and their families and is known for its annual National Police Week event. This is the easiest and preferred method to opt out of the Program. Copyright 2022 Police and Sheriff Support Alliance | All Rights Reserved |. The views expressed here are the author's own. We targeted 100,000 pro-police and likely Republican voters. 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