FSA solicitation feels 'scammish'

[News]

Readers ask me to publicize scams. Real cops won't phone you to ask for money for a law enforcement charity because Florida officers are barred from doing so.

But you may get a call from someone “representing” a law enforcement charity that claims all donations help officers. The Florida Sheriff's Association (FSA) is warning people to be wary of such phone solicitations. “Just because it has a law enforcement name doesn't mean it's legitimate,” a letter from the FSA says.

The irony is that the FSA is using that same scammish fundraising technique. Few people question the ploy, but it comes close to being what a FTC website warns us against.

The FSA is also known for rewarding donors with decals for their cars. The FSA surely knows that donors hope those decals will provide good will from officers from getting tickets. The suggestion is unspoken, yet hard to miss. My guess: No one has put such a sheriffs decal on a car without thinking about that possibility that it might get them a break from a ticket.

This year's FSA letter claims the FSA needs money now because “Our world seems more dangerous now than ever before with terrorism and other state and national security issues.” Huh? With crime stats down, that seems like manipulative scaremongering.

This year's FSA spiel sounds like a fast-talking phone scammer.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20150420/OPINION09/150429971/2416/NEWS?Title=Lyons-Sheriffs-solicitation-feels-scammish-

[mOnEy]

The FSA is NOT a bonifide police agency. It is a PRIVATE organization that that has the word “sheriff” in it. The FSA works to empower elected sheriffs and many deputies do not like the FSA one bit for that very reason. The FSA should not be begging people for money.

[Unregistered]

http://www.flsheriffs.org/about_us/milestones/

[Unregistered]

The FSA is nothing more than the UNION for the elected Sheriffs!!! These sheriffs do everything they can to take away rights and protections from the deputies but utilize the FSA as the way for them to get more protections for themselves

[Unregistered]

The FSA should not be begging people for money.
The FSA is nothing more than a political arm for elected sheriffs. It's politics at it's worst.


The FSA is nothing more than the UNION for the elected Sheriffs!!! These sheriffs do everything they can to take away rights and protections from the deputies but utilize the FSA as the way for them to get more protections for themselves
Unfortunately, what you wrote is true. :(

The FSA has become a union for elected sheriffs.

[Unregistered]

FSA created the Florida Sheriffs' Bureau, forerunner to what is known today as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

FSA founded the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, whose mission is to prevent delinquency and develop strong, lawful, resilient and productive citizens who will make a positive contribution to our communities for years to come.

FSA founded the Florida Law Enforcement Academy, the first statewide training center for city, county and state law-enforcement officers.

FSA pioneered accreditation in the state and was co-founder of the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation – a program that encourages law-enforcement agencies to maintain the highest standards of professional law enforcement for our communities. As vacancies are created on the commission, the FSA president is responsible for appointing their replacement.

FSA launched the Teen Driver Challenge to help combat the high crash and fatality rate of teen drivers. The program has rapidly expanded and is now available in nearly half of Florida’s counties.

They are an outstanding organization and reflect well on all Sheriff's and DEPUTIES in the State of Florida.

[Unregistered]

You give your money to the FSA you are cutting your own throat. This is nothing more than a lobbying group for all 67 Sheriff's in Florida to have things their way. Sure they have a youth ranch and that is commendable, but (long pause) keep in mind they are politicians and in my opinion you (as a deputy) are just in their way. Keep your hard earned money and give it to a worthy cause.

[Unregistered]

You give your money to the FSA you are cutting your own throat. This is nothing more than a lobbying group for all 67 Sheriff's in Florida to have things their way. Sure they have a youth ranch and that is commendable, but (long pause) keep in mind they are politicians and in my opinion you (as a deputy) are just in their way. Keep your hard earned money and give it to a worthy cause.

Agreed 100%.

Many years ago when Florida was rural, the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) was an honorable organization. As proof, the FSA helped to establish FDLE. However, the FSA has morphed into a private money-begging political-arm of Florida’s “elected” sheriffs. As another poster accurately wrote, “The FSA is a union for ‘elected’ sheriffs.”

The “elected” sheriffs of the FSA union claim that the FSA is helping everyone, to include deputies, but that’s rubbish. The FSA is not there to fight or lobby for us. The FSA is there strictly to lobby for “elected” sheriffs.

You cannot separate the stink from shit. Similarly, the FSA has become so entrenched in Florida’s legislature (with lobbying and bullying efforts) that it’s almost impossible to separate the two – but it is possible.

The bottom line: The FSA is a PRIVATE organization with the word “sheriff’ in it and it uses its political clout to beg citizens for money.

[Unregistered]

FSA created the Florida Sheriffs' Bureau, forerunner to what is known today as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

FSA founded the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, whose mission is to prevent delinquency and develop strong, lawful, resilient and productive citizens who will make a positive contribution to our communities for years to come.

FSA founded the Florida Law Enforcement Academy, the first statewide training center for city, county and state law-enforcement officers.

FSA pioneered accreditation in the state and was co-founder of the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation – a program that encourages law-enforcement agencies to maintain the highest standards of professional law enforcement for our communities. As vacancies are created on the commission, the FSA president is responsible for appointing their replacement.

FSA launched the Teen Driver Challenge to help combat the high crash and fatality rate of teen drivers. The program has rapidly expanded and is now available in nearly half of Florida’s counties.

They are an outstanding organization and reflect well on all Sheriff's and DEPUTIES in the State of Florida.

Trolls are too stupid to understand.

[Unregistered]

You give your money to the FSA you are cutting your own throat. This is nothing more than a lobbying group for all 67 Sheriff's in Florida to have things their way. Sure they have a youth ranch and that is commendable, but (long pause) keep in mind they are politicians and in my opinion you (as a deputy) are just in their way. Keep your hard earned money and give it to a worthy cause.

If Tom Knight is the poster child for the FSA, then I want my money back! ALL OF IT!!!

[Unregistered]

Trolls are too stupid to understand.


Sure they do all of that, but........their main mission is to lobby to swing things in their favor. Don't be foolish we are all adults here. The FSA is about one thing and that is what is best for the Sheriffs of Florida. They do not exist out of the mere kindness of their wonderful little hearts.

Grow Up bud