cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/17136474

The lawsuit’s claims highlight how “over the last decade, the failure of police foundations nationwide to provide basic levels of transparency raises questions about their motives, and whether or not they have the public interest at heart”, said Alex Vitale, the author of The End of Policing. “If you have nothing to hide, then why are you hiding?” Vitale said.

Last week’s lawsuit draws attention to the center’s driving force, the APF – the nation’s largest police foundations, and one of the most well-funded among hundreds, with support from corporate donors such as Delta, Wells Fargo and Home Depot. Its CEO, Dave Wilkinson, is also the highest-paid among police foundation CEOs nationwide, with a 2022 salary of $500,000.

Corporate funding, coupled with their non-profit status, have allowed police foundations to escape public scrutiny, said Vitale. “Police have relied on these slush funds to provide them with levels of independence from government oversight unheard of in any other agency,” Vitale said.