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January 14, 2008

Somerset police warn against disabled police aid group

SOMERSET, Mass. -- Police warned today that area businesses may be asked to contribute money to an organization that claims to benefit disabled police officers, yet apparently spends more than 80 percent of its budget on fundraising and not a dime on individuals.

The sales pitch from the Disabled Police Officers Assistance Foundation asks for money to support "our local community officers that are struggling through a hard time due to a disability.''

But the 2006 not-for-profit tax disclosure form for the organization's parent company -- the most recent on file with the state of Massachusetts -- shows that the group is based in Niceville, Fla., raised $627,052 and spent $513,200 on fundraising.

And the line that calls for listing "specific assistance to individuals'' is blank. The group, on its Web site, claims to have handed out 21 scholarships of up to $1,000 each in 2006 and 46 scholarships in 2005.

Police Chief Joseph C. Ferreira said the organization came to Somerset's attention after a local merchant was prepared to donate $1,000 and called police to check out its legitimacy.

-- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr.

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 6:17 PM | Permalink

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