Police Arrogance

Perhaps you saw the story.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch uncovered through investigative reporting that a for-profit telemarketer was keeping 83 cents out of every dollar they raised on behalf of a Missouri police chiefs' association.

Donors were outraged.

The charity acted ashamed, after being exposed for this unscrupulous practice, in which donors who wanted to support their local cops saw less than 1/5 of their donation going to the charity.

State officials promised to protect the citizens. Politicians vowed to pass legislation to banish this vile (but perfectly legal) practice where unsuspecting donors unknowingly line the pockets of telemarketers.

So, then what happened?

Some time passed. The firestorm died down.

And then the charity renewed their contract with the fundraiser!

Same terms, same deal.

Outrageous.

"Charities" like this, and I use that term very loosely, are selfishly poisoning the waters for everyone. They'll do anything to protect their own interests, even if it means arrogantly screwing over their donors for a short-term gain.

I always thought that the only way we'd get rid of these deceptive practices by charities and their hired-gun fundraisers was to bring them to light. Surely, once donors found out that their donations were being squandered, the charities would be shamed into knocking it off.

And now we know that's not the truth.

On behalf of all of the donors to the Missouri Police Chiefs Charitable Foundation, I ask the charity, and their fundraiser, United Appeal, "Sirs, have you no shame?"

Don't bother answering. Sadly, you already have.