Authorities Warn Well-Intentioned Residents Of 'Defund Police' Scam

BEAUMONT, CA — A letter mailed to Beaumont residents claiming to come from the "United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association" and asking for money to help fund the purchase of bulletproof vests for local law enforcement officers is a scam, the Beaumont Police Department warned this week.

The con is hitting other jurisdictions as well, and residents are advised to remain on alert for the unscrupulous tactics.

The fraudulent letter titled “Emergency Body Armor Vest Program - Beaumont Area Police 2023 Annual Support” plays on residents' fears of defunding and/or budget decreases for local police.

“The 'Defund the Police' movement and misguided politicians have rammed through drastic cuts to police budgets," the letter reads, and goes on to state that "police officers in many jurisdictions must buy their own body armor vests."

See a copy of the letter below:

The Beaumont Police Department warned well-intentioned residents not to fall for the scam.

"We assure you that all of our officers have bulletproof vests and that we have adequate local government funding to purchase new vests for all of our officers when they expire," the agency reported. "More importantly, we have not received any money from this organization and have discovered that other police agencies across the country have reported the same. ... this money does not benefit the Beaumont Police Department."

The only ongoing fundraising the Beaumont Police Department participates in is its Police K9 Program, but the agency said it never mails letters or calls residents seeking donations.

Neither the Riverside County Sheriff's Department nor other police agencies in the region solicit money via letters or calls.

If you receive fundraising requests and are unsure of their validity, contact your local law enforcement agency.