Police question authenticity of nonprofit's fundraising

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Police departments in at least four states have raised concerns about an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, alleging the group conducts fundraising scams targeting vulnerable people under the guise of raising money for law enforcement.

The Trenton Police Department in Michigan is among the agencies that have issued scam alerts about letters sent by the National Police Association, The Indianapolis Star reported.

The letters indicate the group is raising money for law enforcement in the Trenton area, but the police department has never received any funds, said Police Chief Todd Scheffler. The association's affiliations with any police organizations are undefined and last month National Fraternal Order of Police Executive Director Jim Pasco said he was not familiar with the organization.

"People think they're doing something beneficial to the community (by donating) and the community doesn't see any benefit from this," Scheffler said. "They're just giving money to somebody. We don't know who this is. It comes back to a P.O. Box."

Agencies in Wisconsin, Florida and Indiana have also raised concerns about the group's authenticity.

The association's president is 59-year-old Eddie Hutchison of Hamilton County, Indiana. Hutchison works for the Indiana attorney general's office as a fraud investigator and says he volunteers for the nonprofit a few hours a week.

Hutchison's attorney, Derek Peterson, said the association isn't a scam.

"The Police Chiefs that you refer to have not made those assertions to the NPA," Peterson said. "The NPA does not know the basis of such alleged comments, nor the context of such comments."

According to a tax filing, Peterson and Hutchinson are not paid a salary by the association.

In response to questions from the IndyStar, the...