Sources Include: IRS Form 990 and organization's website. WebJoin the Committee for Police Officers Defense as an Associate Member Become an Associate Member today! Agencies should consider implementing policies and procedures to better prevent extremists from being hired as law enforcement officers. The biggest of Piaros PACs, US Veterans Assistance Foundation, bears an almost identical name to the charity that Piaro co-founded in 1994 and later left. In the past decade alone, Kids Wish has channeled nearly $110 million donated for sick children to its corporate solicitors. The defendants did not deny that they were paid for hours they didnt work, but argued that the conduct was illegal. The announcement openly proclaimed that Mack asserts sheriffs can refuse to enforce federal laws they claim are unconstitutional. You're faster than our page! Federal campaign finance watchdogs have flagged activity like this high operating expenses and/or large disbursements to entities associated with the managers of the PAC as indicators of scam PAC activity. Total Revenue and Expenses - Data Available, IRS Published Data (Business Master File) - Data Available, Data Sources (IRS Forms 990) - Data Available, How to Donate Food and Prevent Food Waste. The Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF) is a national, nonprofit charity that provides legal defense for law enforcement officers who are facing criminal or civil prosecution. The organization was created in response to the high number of police officers who are being charged with crimes. As late as 2018, back in Arizona, Mack ran for Arizonas 8th Congressional District, but came in eighth in the Republican primary with 1.42% of the vote. Presented here are this organizations key compensated staff members as identified by our analysts. Sundance Ski Resort rewards our officers with discounted yearly and daily ski passes. All Rights Reserved. The initial paperwork for two of the PACs bears the name of a former charity operator, David Dierks, who has been sued by attorneys general in multiple states. Energy and Mineral Mack intended from the beginning that a big part of CSPOAs agenda would be training law enforcement. However, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of this decision before making a final decision. In this case, we deduct 15 points from the charity's Accountability and Transparency score. CSPOAs first big event was its first national convention, held in Las Vegas in January 2012 and dubbed No Sheriff Left Behind. Mack subsequently claimed that between 115-120 sheriffs appeared at the event, a figure that is impossible to confirm. 855-375-8800, 2020 Allan and Easton, LLC. And how many of you are tired of being pushed around and victimized by our own government officials? This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. Mack and CSPOAs primary argument is the false claim that the powers of the county sheriff supersede those of any other federal, state or local authorities, as long as the intent is to protect American citizens from enemies foreign or domestic. The officer is then exposed to a rigorous and intensive Field Training Officer program for four weeks of graveyard shift, four weeks of swing shift, and four weeks of day shift. The charity was founded in 1991 by a group of law enforcement officers who saw the need for a national organization that could provide legal defense for law enforcement officers. He moved to Utah in 1998 to run for sheriff in Utah County, but lost the Republican primary. Further, hearing officials echo the need for hope over hate, and justice and fair treatment over discrimination, can help build momentum in communities to reject hateful rhetoric. As was the case in Montana, it is not clear that TCOLE took any precautions to ensure that Macks trainings were suitable for law enforcement, that they taught accurate law and policy, were taught by people with appropriate qualifications and credentials or were in any way different from Macks typical extremist events. Privacy policies are assigned to one of the following categories: Yes: This charity has a written donor privacy policy published on its website, which states unambiguously that (1) it will not share or sell a donor's personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations or (2) it will only share or sell personal information once the donor has given the charity specific permission to do so. Communications & Technology Subcommittee. OFAC began its work in 1940 at the onset of World War II, when a small group of Treasury officials made the decision to leverage the Departments tools to freeze the U.S.-based assets of European countries under Nazi occupation, and support Jews in Europe fleeing Hitlers oppression. This new group had the particular goal of spreading militia ideology to current and former military personnel, first responders and police officers. WebContact Information. Written Testimony . Review policies and procedures for addressing law enforcement affiliations with extremist movements. In the past decade alone, Kids Wish has channeled nearly $110 million donated for sick children to its corporate solicitors. Though Mack has condemned white supremacy, claiming it has no place in a free society, he does seem to be willing to make exceptions as long as doing so provides him with a microphone. Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions . CPOD is a legitimate charity that provides much-needed support to the families of law enforcement officers who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. Four other PACs were registered by Robert Piaro, another ex-charity operator who co-founded and formerly worked at a veterans nonprofit in Wisconsin that was criticized for spending an unusually high percentage of its money on fundraising and lost a lease with the federal government in Tomah, Wisconsin, after a veteran died on the property. Borrowing from militia movement conspiracy theories, Mack has argued that power-hungry government officials backed by people with hidden agendas are engaged in a plot to control and enslave Americans. In his 2014 book Are You a David?, Mack claimed that the federal government has reached a zenith of corruption, abuse, greed, deceit and debt and that criminals in government parade around as heroes while attacking Americans. On numerous occasions, Mack has stated that the federal government is the greatest threat to Americans. A few Eastern state sheriffs --- where the powers of the sheriff had been significantly curtailed -- also joined Macks group. A web of new political action committees raised nearly $6 million in recent months under the guise of supporting police, veterans and cancer research. Box 318 Englishtown NJ 07726 732-617-2330 Morganville NJ | IRS ruling year: 1996 | EIN: 13-3830191 The National Police Defense Foundation (NPDF) works to provide One of the groups expensive fundraising practices caught the attention of Montana Attorney General Tim Fox, who received a call in January from Americans for Police and Trooper Safety, asking for donations to help police. I am advised that amended reports are being prepared for filing with the FEC that will correct these mistakes by removing Donor Relations.. Collectively, these events represent one of the most successful attempts in recent decades by anti-government extremists to infiltrate law enforcement, even securing the official imprimaturs and approvals of the states of Montana and Texas. The Department operates a car-per-officer policy, enabling each officer to be provided with a vehicle to take home, and also for 24 hour use within the city. He says there are three ways to look at the local elections. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. We compute the average annual growth of program expenses using the following formula: [(Yn/Y0)(1/n)]-1, where Y0 is a charity's program expenses in the first year of the interval analyzed, Yn is the charity's program expenses in the most recent year, and n is the interval of years passed between Y0 and Yn. Cops has also been criticized for its stance on immigration. Richard Mack was one of the founding members of The Oath Keepers, served on its board and actively promoted the group. The organization does a lot of good work, but it also has its share of controversies. The complaint also alleged that Dierks and LeConte had filed inaccurate registration and IRS forms that made it appear they spent more money than they did on programming expenses to help police officers. Current CEO and Board Chair can be found in the Leadership & Adaptability report below. to name a few! Yet more money flowed to another company with a connection to Dierks. Arise USA! 445 W Center St Suite 130. To make ends meet, Mack worked as a car salesman and, briefly, as a consultant for the American Institute for Research, a Utah-based company led by tax protester Albert E. Carter, until Carter was raided by the FBI during a fraud investigation (in 2004, Carter pleaded guilty to tax evasion and mail fraud for operating what was essentially a Ponzi scheme). But they did agree to terms including ceas[ing] all current and future solicitation in California and paying $60,000 to the state. Dierks and officers for the two PACs registered by him Americans for Police and Trooper Safety and Cops and Kids Together did not respond to requests for comment for this story. There are plenty of variations on this scam. Traubel claimed that Islam is the culture of death and that Jews were to blame for the creation of the Soviet Union and led the Bolshevik revolution. Traubel openly identified himself with the constitutional sheriffs. He was not selected. National Police Defense Foundation cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization. Partial Credit: There has been a diversion of assets within the last two years and the charity has used Schedule O on the Form 990 to explain: the nature of the diversion, the amount of money or property involved and the corrective action taken to address the matter. Piaro said his PACs will support legislation on these causes by helping them with contributions for mailers, billboards, or anything like that, and he plans to start spending $200,000 to $300,000 on political activity once the groups have raised sufficient funds and do a sustained push during the 2020 election. One of Macks earliest influences was W. Cleon Skousen, the far right-wing conspiracy theorist and promoter of divinely inspired limited government who influenced many anti-government extremists over the decades, primarily in Western states. New-hire officers receive a competitive wage and will participate in the Utah Retirement System. It is not the first time one of Zeitlins companies has come under regulatory scrutiny: In California, Courtesy Call was part of a 2009 lawsuit alleging misleading charitable fundraising practices. WebHome pet friendly houses for rent centralia, wa is committee for police officers' defense legit Like the Oath Keepers, CSPOA would be open to anybody (the cost of yearly membership is currently $99), but unlike the Oath Keepers, it had a narrow focus: the office of the county sheriff. Mack has also claimedagain, falselythat the county sheriff has the power to call out the militia to support him in his opposition to tyranny. Ironically, this "Police" organization is a criminal enterprise harassing the public with "invoices" for its "recommended" donation of $155. We check the charity's last two Forms 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets. Its like when they asked Willie Sutton, Why do you rob banks? He said, Because thats where the money is," FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub said of groups that raise money, but don't spent it on political activities. A Washington state sheriff, Bob Songer, received the award for refusing to enforce a state gun control initiative. What is clear is that over the past 10 years, Richard Mack has succeeded in spreading his extremist ideas to a substantial minority of sheriffs offices in the United States. WebReview training procedures for law enforcement. The Committee for Police Officers Defense (CPOD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds to provide financial assistance to the families of law enforcement officers who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. Its easier for a scam PAC than it is for a charity, Ravel, who left the commission in 2017, told POLITICO. There have been cases of police officers scamming people out of their money by asking for donations. If you are not sure if a call is legitimate, you can always hang up and call the police department to ask. The Oath Keepers soon became one of the largest groups associated with the militia movement. Initially, many of Macks speaking engagements and personal appearances were connected to either the NRA or to the John Birch Society. They also argue that dogs are less likely to use excessive force than humans, and that they can be used to defuse dangerous situations. The central tenet of CSPOA, borrowed from the anti-government extremist sovereign citizen movement, is that the county sheriff is the ultimate authority in the county, able to halt enforcement of any federal or state law or measure they deem unconstitutional. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. The organizations website lists several examples of how it has helped families in need, including paying for funeral expenses and providing financial assistance for medical bills. However, he may have been most influenced by the militia movements hostility towards the federal government. His bid went nowhere, as did a 2006 bid to become a U.S. Each vehicle is equipped with a wide variety of specialized policing equipment including: laptop computer, printer, camera equipment, radar and Lidar, LED pursuit lights, and more! In late February 2021, CSPOA held a two-day training in The Woodlands north of Houston. Mack has also exhibited considerable ability to exploit any current situation to promote his views. Divisions That goal is to help police officers fight against the He says there are three ways to look at the local elections. Mack was also vocal in praising sheriffs who took actions he approved of, calling them constitutional sheriffs. Soon, CSPOA began handing out the Constitutional Sheriff of the Year award; winners have included controversial Wisconsin sheriff David Clarke, Jr., who described Black Lives Matter as a hate group and claimed they would join with the terrorist group ISIS to destroy American society, as well as Nick Finch, a Florida sheriff who unlawfully released a man arrested for a firearms felony and was suspended by the governor. Open Secrets following the money in politics, OpenSecrets Following the money in politics. Washington, Determines how long a charity could sustain its level of spending using its net available assets, or working capital, as reported on its most recently filed Form 990. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. We include in a charity's working capital unrestricted and temporarily restricted net assets, and exclude permanently restricted net assets. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). View its full profile in our Outside Spending section. That goal is to help police officers fight back against the nation wide "War on Cops" by taking a varied political stance against politicians, activist judges, prosecutors, district attorneys, and a host of other parties who actively try to bring police officers Police fundraising calls may not be legitimate, as the police may be trying to scam you. IUPA is one of about 70 affiliates of the national AFL-CIO and touts itself as the only union for law enforcement officers. From roughly 2011 to March 2018, the union and the relief fund spent about $106.3 million, according to annual tax returns filed with the IRS. To calculate a charity's fundraising efficiency, we divide its average fundraising expenses by the average total contributions it receives. Since its inception, the LELDF has provided legal defense for more than 2,500 law enforcement officers. A number of sheriffs, especially in Western states, already had a long history of right-wing activism or opposition to the federal government. Provo City is currently part of the Aetna Insurance group with a wide range of family and specialty physicians to choose from. Several years later, the Supreme Court overturned key portions of the Brady Law, cementing Macks status as a defender of gun ownership. Clean-cut, with an appealing speaking voice, Mack has addressed groups small and large, typically using the story of his Brady Law victory as a way to attack the federal government or, more recently, to help introduce his views about county sheriffs. Our Police, Firefighters, and all First Responders do need our support. I would recommend donating to this organization if you are interested in supporting the families of law enforcement officers. John has 24 years experience both prosecuting and defending such crimes as: Violent crimes, sex related crimes, property crimes, drug related crimes, and DUI offenses. But nearly Your email address will not be published. With CSPOA at his disposal, Mack no longer needed Rhodes and the Oath Keepers (he eventually parted ways with them, departing from the board). Cart ID: Not Assigned, Copyright 2023 | EIN 13-4148824 | Bridge ID 3108588923. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. When POLITICO called Americans for Police and Trooper Safetys listed phone number, the person who answered said she represented multiple companies but declined to identify them. Contributions are non-charitable and not tax deductible. The general growth of sheriffs resistance may have played a role in one of the latest CSPOA developments: the rise of memberships linked not to individuals (sheriffs or otherwise) but rather to entire counties. In a disturbing development, in 2021, Mack was able to win official state approval for his trainings in Montana and Texas, which allows attendees to receive continuing education credit for attending Macks events. But in April, the seven new PACs disclosed spending $3.9 million with Donor Relations LLC and other vendors at the same address, according to FEC spending records. A telemarketing firm used by several of the PACs for fundraising, Donor Relations LLC, is being probed by the Federal Trade Commission for alleged deceptive practices while raising money for charities in the past, according to federal court records. PODA is a legitimate organization that provides valuable services to its members. Box 318 Englishtown NJ 07726, MorganvilleNJ | IRS ruling year: 1996 | EIN: 13-3830191, The National Police Defense Foundation (NPDF) works to provide important medical and legal support services to the national law enforcement community, and also admin (More)The National Police Defense Foundation (NPDF) works to provide important medical and legal support services to the national law enforcement community, and also administers several NPDF law enforcement programs involving public safety and child safety programs. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years. Americans nationwide must be better aware of extremist indicators and propaganda, some of which may not be obviously extremist in nature for people with no background knowledge. Mack has claimed that some of his national CSPOA events have been attended by more than 100 sheriffs and that several hundred sheriffs are members. On the one hand, there are those who feel that using dogs for law enforcement is a legitimate use of resources. The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA) is an anti-government extremist group whose primary purpose is to recruit sheriffs into the anti-government patriot movement. John has trained hundreds of other prosecutors throughout the United States on criminal trial skills and strategies. It is remarkable that serving, high-ranking law enforcement officers would so readily link themselves to an extremist group. Mack, backed by the NRA (which named him officer of the year in 1994), embarked on a public campaign against the Brady Law, giving seemingly countless interviews in the press and on the air across the country. Our analysts check the charity's website to see if the organization has a donor privacy policy in place and what it does and does not cover. We are in the "closing arguments phase" of the local election campaign, deputy political editor Sam Coates says. This organization received multiple star ratings within this fiscal year, due to an update to its Accountability and Transparency data and/or the receipt of an amended Form 990. High quality, dark blue uniforms States should review training curricula to ensure that trainings serve a legitimate and specific law enforcement purpose, teach principles that are in accord with current federal and state law and judicial rulings, and do not attempt to spread partisan or ideological viewpoints. States should review training curricula to ensure that trainings serve a legitimate and specific law enforcement purpose, teach Throughout the appropriations process, Members of Congress should provide resources for training opportunities for law enforcement to recognize and combat extremism. He was the Violent Crimes Division Chief for the Utah County Attorneys Office handling such cases as murder, rape, aggravated assault, domestic violence, kidnapping, and other violent crimes. Also located within City limits is the Provo Municipal Airport, which provides air travel to Mesa, Arizona and Los Angeles, California. In an interview, Piaro said the high fundraising costs will help his PACs get off the ground. If the problem persists contact us. When it became clear the two parties could not reach an agreement, the partiesmoved towardarbitration. CSPOA returned to Texas in July 2021 for two additional The County Sheriff: Americas Last Hope training events for sheriffs, peace officers and elected officials. Held back-to-back in Burnet and Crockett, Texas, with the assistance of the Burnet County Sheriffs Department and the Houston County Sheriffs Department, these events were billed as official TCOLE training opportunities. Although anti-government extremists tend to be hostile to law enforcementand have assaulted or even killed a number of law enforcement officers over the yearsthey have also exhibited a longstanding interest in sharing their ideas with that community, especially local law enforcement, based on the premise that sympathetic law enforcement officers would not enforce unpopular laws, such as income tax laws or gun regulations. Over the years, Mack continued CSPOAs outreach efforts to law enforcement, alerting local sheriffs whenever he was presenting in their area and typically offering them free access to his events. WebNational Police Defense Foundation has earned a 3/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator. April 27, 2023. Duty holster with firearm, Taser, handcuffs, Altogether, the seven PACs spent nearly 85 percent of the $5.9 million they raised through March. Some people argue that Cops should not be partnering with an organization that is opposed to gun control. This makes it a secure and reliable system, and it ensures that the data is tamper-proof. He fundraised on the idea of sponsoring a National Training Program and covering the travel costs for sheriffs around the country to attend his seminars. (888) 717-0466. Not a superintendent, not a deputy superintendent, and certainly not the commissioner ever told them there was anything inappropriate or incorrect about those practices, defense attorney Robert Goldstein told the jury. CSPOA billed The County Sheriff: Americas Last Hope as an official training event of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Training (TCOLE, the Texas equivalent of POST), for which attendees could get educational credit. 445 W Center St Suite 130 The FEC has dismissed past complaints lodged by candidates who felt that PACs had misrepresented themselves to raise money using their names. PODA has been criticized by some for its close relationship with the police officers unions. WebP.O. On the other hand, there are those who feel that using dogs for law enforcement is a waste of time and money. The Veterans Assistance Foundation leased a Veterans Affairs dormitory to house homeless veterans in Tomah, Wisconsin. The Leldf is a digital asset management system that enables businesses to manage and protect their intellectual property. ", Mack was an early, vocal supporter of the militia movement, which emerged in the mid-1990s, claiming to have formed a militia of his own in Graham County (at different times, he called it a militia and a posse,) and urging people not to demonize militia groups. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence. Ultimately, the decision about whether or not to use dogs for law enforcement is up to the individual police department. Even the Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995 failed to sway him. The person that I talked to made no mention of this being a political organization or any kind of advocacy organization that was going to spend money on politics or policy. Utah Lake and Utah Lake State Park are located within the city limits and offer boating, fishing, swimming, and camping. Provo City is extremely family friendly offering quality education, fine and casual dining, night life options, and a safe, friendly environment to reside in. Two years later, in April 2017, Mack appeared on another white supremacist radio program, By Yahwehs Design, in an episode titled Meet Richard Mack..
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