There's a good chance you or your employees have been contacted by for-profit telemarketers soliciting for non-charitable law enforcement unions. The Better Business Bureau has received many complaints over the years from citizens who have been pressured to give money to these groups. They donate out of fear or a desire for protection from promoters who imply they are police officers.

Professional telemarketers working for organizations with “official sounding” names contact and often harass your employees at home.

The telemarketers often strongly imply that they are police officers, sheriff's deputies and state troopers when they are actually representing non-charitable law enforcement unions. They imply that the money donated will be used to help families of slain police officers. There are often insinuations of neighborhood protection in exchange for a donation.

Employees should realize that displaying a decal on their car window will not buy protection for their homes or exempt them from receiving speeding tickets. Often 90 percent of the money raised goes into the pockets of professional telemarketers. In some cases the remaining small percentage may pay for lobbying, union functions and related activities.

According to the Houston Police Department (HPD), their officers do not solicit money from citizens for HPD purposes. John Cannon, HPD spokesman, stated that citizens who want to help the families of wounded officers should contact the 100 Club of Houston.

The Better Business Bureau does not endorse, recommend, or disapprove any product, service or organization.