Cops for Kids?

What exactly is Cops for Kids? Who does it help? And how?

With these questions in mind, I attempted this week to obtain public financial records related to Cops for Kids, an organization that is operated by the Mooresville Police Department and purportedly assists needy children, seniors and families in the Mooresville area.

On Thursday, the Report visited Town Hall to look through copies of the Cops for Kids public financial records. The town’s finance director, Maia Setzer, said that the records are not kept in the finance department, but in the police department.

At the police department, Maj. Carl Robbins said that the public records are, in fact, held there but that Police Chief John Crone is on vacation this week and that the public records could not be viewed by the public because they are kept under lock-and-key in the chief’s office.

Further, Robbins said, no one but Crone has a key that could access the office and, therefore, the records. He suggested that we arrange a meeting with Crone next week to review the documents.

Earlier today, Commissioner Miles Atkins sent an e-mail to Town Attorney Steve Gambill, asking that the town resolve the situation today and “provide Ms. Gatton the information she is requesting.” Atkins continued: “I don’t have a problem if we need to call a locksmith.”

Shortly thereafter, Erskine Smith e-mailed the Report, stating that he and Gambill had contacted Crone, who is at the beach. Smith said that the Cops for Kids records – according to Crone – are in “several files” in the chief’s office and that we would have to wait until 3 p.m. on Monday to meet with Crone and review the files.

According to the police department’s website, Cops for Kids is an incorporated business that since 1995 has “assisted children, seniors, and families that find themselves in unfortunate situations.

“Through generous donations from local business sponsors and individuals in our community,” the website reads, “Cops for Kids has enabled children and seniors to enjoy some of the basic necessities that were not available to them through other agencies. Whether it be transportation costs to school or work, a temporary place to stay for an entire homeless family, youth activity funding, clothing, or some assistance for educational costs, Cops for Kids is ready to help,” according to the website.

“Cops for Kids was created to help children at Christmas time,” the website continues. “Giving a few disadvantaged children Christmas presents while on routine neighborhood patrols during the holidays has grown into a local organization that now offers those in need a host of services during the holiday season and throughout the year.

“With low overhead and virtually no red tape,” the website concludes, “Cops for Kids can respond immediately to children, seniors, and families in need. We are often the local organization called to help because of our ability to quickly and respectfully assist others with emergency funding from utility payments to temporary housing.”

The town board earlier this week, in approving the fiscal year 2009 budget, approved a $20,000 transfer from the Town of Mooresville’s general fund into the police department’s Cops for Kids budget. The Mooresville Police Department requested the $20,000, and Interim Town Manager Erskine Smith recommended its approval.

While I wait for access to the Cops for Kids records, I thought I’d share with you the questions on my mind about the organization. While I have a lot of questions, they are all straightforward and should be easy to answer. I expect that all of the questions will be answered by the public documents that I have been told I can review with the police chief on Monday at 3 p.m. – incidentally, six hours after the police department opens for business.

What I’d Like to Know About Cops for Kids . . .

1. When was Cops for Kids founded?

2. Who founded Cops for Kids?

3. Under what circumstances and for what reasons was Cops for Kids founded?

4. When was Cops for Kids incorporated?

5. Who files Cops for Kids’ annual corporate report with the North Carolina Secretary of State?

6. Who incorporated Cops for Kids?

7. Is Cops for Kids a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity?

8. When was Cops for Kids’ non-profit status secured?

9. Who files Cops for Kids’ annual report with the Internal Revenue Service?

10. Who are the officers of Cops for Kids?

11. Who serves on the board of directors of Cops for Kids?

12. How are the officers and directors of Cops for Kids selected?

13. How much money has Cops for Kids raised since its founding?

14. Since its founding, how much money has Cops for Kids taken in every fiscal year?

15. What were the sources of income for Cops for Kids for every fiscal year since its founding?

16. Since its founding, what was Cops for Kids’ total annual expenditures every fiscal year?

17. On what did Cops for Kids spend its money every fiscal year since its founding?

18. For every fiscal year since its founding, what percentage of the organization’s expenditures has been spent providing assistance to individuals or families in need?

19. Does Cops for Kids have any employees and, if so, who are they, what positions do they hold, and what are their salaries?

20. Who has performed the annual audit of the Cops for Kids’ finances?

21. Does Cops for Kids accept cash donations? If so, how are they recorded?

22. Who keeps the Cops for Kids’ financial records?

23. Why are Cops for Kids’ financial records not kept in the town’s finance office?

24. Where does Cops for Kids do its banking and what kinds of accounts does it have?

25. Who has access to and control over Cops for Kids’ bank accounts?

26. Who determines the amounts and purposes for which Cops for Kids money will be spent?

27. Since its founding, what businesses have contributed to Cops for Kids in each fiscal year?

28. Since its founding, what individuals have contributed to Cops for Kids each fiscal year?

29. What grants has Cops for Kids applied for since its founding?

30. What grants has Cops for Kids received since its founding?

31. What are the criteria used to determine if a needy family or individual is eligible to receive assistance from Cops for Kids?

32. Who determines the criteria?

33. How often are the criteria reviewed and by whom?

34. What kind of assistance does Cops for Kids typically provide to individuals and families in need?

35. Must someone be a resident of Mooresville to receive assistance from Cops for Kids?

36. Since its founding, how many needy individuals or families has Cops for Kids assisted?

37. Since its founding, how much money has Cops for Kids spent each fiscal year to help needy individuals and families?

38. Is there a limit to the amount of assistance Cops for Kids will provide to an individual or family?

39. How is the limit determined and by whom?

40. What relationship does Cops for Kids have with other similar charitable organizations, such as the Mooresville Christian Mission?

41. What relationship does Cops for Kids have with governmental agencies, such as the department of social services?

42. If an individual or family is in need, how can they request the assistance of Cops for Kids?

43. How does Cops for Kids publicize its services?

44. What annual events does Cops for Kids hold?

45. What is the purpose of the events?

46. Since its founding, how much money has Cops for Kids raised each year through the annual golf tournament?

47. Since its founding, how many individuals have entered the annual golf tournament each year?

48. What overhead costs does Cops for Kids have?


… And Documents I’d Like to See

1. Articles of incorporation

2. Bylaws

3. Application for tax exempt status

4. All annual budgets since the organization’s founding

5. All board minutes since the organization’s founding

6. All annual reports provided to the North Carolina Secretary of State

7. All annual reports filed with the Internal Revenue Service

8. Any and all other reports filed with any and all other government agencies

9. All annual audits

10. All bank statements generated since the organization’s founding

11. Receipts of all contributions received since the organization’s founding

12. Receipts of all expenditures made since the organization’s founding

13. Any and all application forms for prospective individuals or families requesting assistance.

14. Any and all applications for assistance from individuals or families

15. Any and all documents used to assess requests for assistance from individuals and families

16. Any and all policies, regulations, rules, or other guidelines developed since the organization’s founding and used to govern any aspect of Cops for Kids’ operation or functioning

17. Any and all grant applications

18. Any and all correspondence related to grant applications, including, but not limited to, rejection letters and reward letters