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State Policemen's Association Declares War on Telemarketers
State Policemen's Association Declares War on Telemarketers
By Martin C. Daks
8/19/2008

The New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association is warning the public about telemarketers soliciting for donations to a police charity that allegedly spends most of its money on marketing, according to Anthony Wieners, president of the State PBA.  

"We are the largest law enforcement union in the state and we do not solicit by phone," Wieners said in an announcement today. "The New Jersey State Police and the Troopers Union also do not solicit by phone; it creates too much potential for fraud."

The state PBA and the state Troopers Union both use direct mail for fundraising activities, according to a statement released today by the PBA.

The union's campaign was sparked by a blitz of phone calls made on behalf of the New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police, a Trenton-based organization that took in nearly $4.3 million in contributions from the public, plus about $400,000 in membership dues and event revenue during fiscal 2006.

The state Fraternal Order of Police says it provides death benefits and other services for more than 14,000 New Jersey police officers. But an NJBIZ investigation in December (Where Your Pledge Money Really Goes) revealed that $82,934—or less than 2 percent—was actually paid out for the "good and welfare" of the officers. Instead, the organization's federal tax return shows that $3.7 million—or 87.2 percent of the public donations—was spent on fundraising expenses, including fees to an Edison-based consulting company, Civic Development Group LLC, that has a long history of disputes with federal and state regulators.

Starting tomorrow, the PBA says it is kicking off "a media blitz" to alert New Jersey residents about the state Fraternal Order of Police. The PBA is also concerned about reports of "high pressure phone calls and questionable tactics with elderly people in nursing homes," according to a statement released by the organization.

"Every organization can raise money and spend it as they see fit, but as for the money reaching New Jersey law enforcement—it doesn't," says PBA spokesman Jim Ryan.