PITTSBURGH,None — The chief of Edgeworth police said he sent out a warning to residents after receiving complaints about calls asking for donations.
Edgeworth residents said the person on the other end of the phone claims that the money will help out local police departments.
Chief John English said he wanted people to know that his department was not asking for donations.
"I figured I would let all of our residents know that if they get a call we are not soliciting funds. We never do and never will, and if someone is saying that it's false," said English.
Channel 11's Vince Sims learned that the calls are being conducted by the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 91 and that the calls aren't a scheme.
The lodge represents 120 municipalities outside of Pittsburgh. The president of the FOP said they hire a company to do the fundraising and the FOP gets a percentage of the money.
"We use that to pay our expenses for lobbying purposes and prevent bad laws from being passed," said Henry Wiehagen.
Wiehagen said the cash indirectly goes to individual police departments.
"We're an organization that represents approximately 120-something municipalities. So collectively it benefits all police officers," said Wiehagen.
"The FOP is an excellent organization. They do a lot of good for the community and police officers. But we do not get a dime from them directly," English said.
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