The New York Police Chiefs Foundation relentlessly cold-calls for cash but gives only a pittance to law enforcement, while its sister charity New York State Crime Stoppers lies about having celebrities on its board, The Post has found.
The NYS Crime Stoppers website quoted Julia Louis-Dreyfus as an “advisory board member.”
“Crime is no laughing matter; it has a negative effect on everyone,” the actress said.
Problem is, a rep for the “Veep” star said she never provided a quote to the group and has “zero connection” to it.
And actor Vincent D’Onofrio, another purported advisory board member, has supported the Crime Stoppers group in the past, but has no role on its board, said a source close to the “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” star.
The Police Chiefs Foundation exists only to fund the Crime Stoppers group and they share a Westchester office and CEO.
Crime Stoppers runs a tip line and promises rewards of up to $2,500 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved in violent crimes.
Most of its $84,181 revenue in 2016 came from the Police Chiefs Foundation, which took in a hefty $385,113 in the last nine months of 2016, according to its tax filing.
But 81 percent of the haul — $310,665 — went to Quick Call Inc., the Brooklyn telemarketing firm making the calls.
The sales pitch for the foundation says it helps provide “resources, administration and targeted aid to crime fighting efforts state wide.”
“As always, money raised will support police officer training programs so our officers can better protect and serve our communities,” a telemarketer said during one recent pitch.
Robert Pavone, the CEO of both groups and a former police chief in the Westchester town of Cortlandt, said a training program was last held about two years ago.
He said the group’s goal is to collect money so the state Crime Stoppers could run its tip line, although it has given out few rewards. It handed out $1,000 in 2016 and $1,000 in 2015, records show.
Pavone was paid $10,892 as the group’s president for a nine-month period in 2016 and Robert Gabrielli, the treasurer, was paid $18,000.
Gabrielli is a retired deputy inspector general for the state’s Workers Compensation system.
Pavone said those on the organization’s advisory board have been supporters of the nonprofit and had been “ordained” members.
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