Julia’s ‘support’ a crime whopper
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 learned.
Crime Stoppers quotes Julia Louis-Dreyfus on its Web site, and calls her an “advisory-board member.”
“Crime is no laughing matter; it has a negative effect on everyone,” the actress is quoted on the site.
Problem is, a rep for the “Veep” star said Louis-Dreyfus never provided a statement to the group and has “zero connection” to it.
And 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 a CEO, Robert Pavone.
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 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 statewide.”
“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.
Pavone, 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 Crime Stoppers could run its tip line, although it has given out few rewards. It handed out just $1,000 in 2016 and $1,000 in 2015, records show.
Pavone was paid $10,892 to head Crime Stoppers for a nine-month period in 2016, and treasurer Robert Gabrielli was paid $18,000.
Pavone said those on the organization’s advisory board have been supporters of the nonprofit and had been “ordained” members.
“What you’re defining as advisory board and what we’re defining as advisory board may be a little bit different,” he said.