I Got A Call From The Fraternal Order Of Police Today...

[mermaid]

requesting fucking DONATIONS!!

:wtf:

I was polite with the guy, telling him, truthfully, that I am leaving the state in two weeks, due to my inability to find work in this rotten, lousy economy.

But what I WANTED to say was any of the following...


1. What?? Aren't my taxes good enough for you anymore?

2. You actually expect anyone that you reach at home at THIS hour (noon) to actually be employed and have MONEY??

3. The last time my fucking car window got smashed in, it took you assholes FOUR FUCKING HOURS and six phone calls before you FINASLLY sent a fingerprint unit. Maybe if you'd have gotten you asses over here when I called you mighta CAUGHT the sonofabitch!! Now, you want my money for WHAT, exactly?? Has the goddam Dunkin' donuts fund gone dry??

I just could not believe the GALL of the FOP calling up people at home begging for donations, especially the way the APD treats the goddamn citizenry in this town! And, again...wtf, ain't our TAXES good enough for them any more??

What? I ought give them MORE fucking money, so that they can have things I don't get to have?? I'm supposed to pay more for ZERO police protection?? Horse-shit!!

[JVS]

1. I don't think the FOP gets tax money, aren't they a labor union for cops?

[MrModerate]

2. This is almost certainly a con.

These guys either falsely represent themselves as associated with your local police, or bamboozle the local cops into hiring them as fundraisers.

Tell 'em the local PD's fraud department told you not to give money to people who solicit cold over the phone.

[JVS]

5. Read #4

[MrModerate]

11. Read #9

I've gotten calls from a number of outfits with different names, representing themselves as some kind of police-related charity.

Even if, as I said before, the local cops have hired someone to fundraise it's 1) probably a scam that they haven't recognised yet and/or 2) just plain wrong, in that many people would see it as threatening. As in "what happens if I DON'T contribute?"

[CornField]

3. I doubt the FOP is making phone requests

I'd call your local station and ask. It's probably a scam.

[JVS]

4. The FOP called me and asked for a donation, it was legit.

I didn't want to give my credit card, but they sent the sticker along with a bill in the mail so that I could send them a check

[Quakerfriend]

8. I get calls from them all the time

and, they send out mailings that have different pledge amounts. Looks very official to me. I've never given to them. But, why would it necessarily be a scam?

I'm very lucky because the police in my township have been wonderful. They even call me on a regular basis to let me know if they notice anything suspicious at my mother's place, as she has had some real odd folks befriending her and steeling from her.

[CornField]

9. Locally, our police & fire associations do not use the phone

for soliciting. They either do so by mail or in person. Most often they host events as fundraisers.

So, if anyone phones us and asks for a donation, we're told to report it.

[Dr.Phool]

6. Don't ever donate

They will keep calling you forever.

My wife sent them something like $15 2 years ago, even though she told them I was disabled and she was unemployed. A few months back, they started calling again. I told them to quit calling, but they continued, CALLING SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY!!! Always asking for my wife.

Finally, when one called, and asked for her I said "I'm sorry but she died recently".

They never called back.

It wasn't the FOP, but Florida State Troopers.

[Richard Steele]

7. The FOP is more of a Public Service Org.

They do good community-related projects.

They are NOT the Police DEPARTMENT, or the Police UNION.

I share your frustrations with the police -DEPARTMENT-. Had some shots fired at a teenage party down the block the other week;
the officer who responded didn't even knock at the house, even though I and another neighbor gave descriptions of the events an people.

Still no reason to diss the FOP. They were doing things like 'toys for tots' 50 years ago.

*on edit* They DON'T generally "cold call" for donations; lot's of scam artist like to use their name though.
THX to those who mentioned that above.

[Ravenseye]

10. Donate if you get a sticker for your car :)

Usually if you donate they give you a bumper sticker like 'friend of the FOP or whatever'. No idea if it'd help you get off a speeding ticket but it's worth a shot right?

[faithfulcitizen]

12. dude, seriously, calm down and take a deep breath!

The FOP is legit, they do cold call, and I give to them every year. Sorry but what you said about cops and taxes? Just awful, imo. I view cops, firefighters, and teachers as the underpaid & overworked hero-service men & women that they are.

The FOP is a non-profit org and here's what they do:
"It was created to promote professionalism among law enforcement officers, be a vehicle for providing financial assistance to families of officers who have been killed or severely injured in the line of duty, provide scholarships to the immediate relatives of active or retired FOP members, promote public education concerning personal and community health and safety such as crime control and prevention, combating drug abuse and ending the cycle of domestic violence. In addition, the Foundation will also be engaged in the activity of establishing and maintaining memorials that honor law enforcement officers who have been killed in the line of duty."

HMM, DOESN'T SOUND TOO BAD AFTERALL, HUH?

[SoCalDem]

13. Probably a scam organization.. I got one shut down in Ontario

I kept asking questions, and eventually got an address and phone number out of the solicitor. I called the sheriff's department, and they sent cops there and arrested them :)

Public officers/firemen/etc do NOT solicit by phone for donations :)

[Reverend_Smitty]

14. this is off topic but...

I love your sig pic, it's great!

[SoCalDem]

16. Thanks

It's a bit grainy, but I am not a graphic wizard:(.. I would love to go to school JUST to learn photoshop and how to make animations.. I have lots of ideas, but have to piece stuff together the best I can :)

[banjosareunderrated]

15. The FOP is one of the largest police unions, but...

the people that call on the phone aren't FOP members. Nor * assoc. of firefighters, * assoc. of police, etc. They are all real groups but they hire telemarketing companies, large and small, to raise money. A common misperception is that if you give X amount of dollars to the organization, the paid fundraiser will keep a certain percentage as a commission. So, the theory goes, you shouldn't donate unless X amount of your 20 bucks goes to the program(s)and not the telemarketer. That's not usually the case. Most of the time, a telemarketing company will approach X organization and promise them a certain dollar amount either up front, every week, every month, or whatever to win a contract. Whatever the fundraiser brings in they keep. If they bring in less than they promise to the organization, they go out of business and another company bids for the contract. If they bring in an amount that allows them to fulfill their obligation to the group, pay the bills and payroll, and earn a tidy profit, they get big enough to bid on contracts with BIG name recognition---like the FOP. I mean, you get to call for United Way, Make a Wish or whatever, and the company's job gets a lot easier than calling for the St. Louis Coast Guard's Disney for Tots thing. The next time someone calls you, let them know it doesn't matter if you donate or not. The group/organization/program still gets it's money.

Please don't ask how I know this. It was a long time ago and what with the lack of book money, the soaring cost of Ramen, and getting sick of northern Chicago brick weed---well, I needed a decent paying part-time. :)

[Kire]

17. fascinating

thanks for the info