Fairhope, Alabama
'FRIENDS OF FAIRHOPE POLICE'
According to county records, the non-profit 501(c)3 corporation formed in 2010 by former Police Chief Bill Press to raise private funds to aid the police department was dissolved earlier this year -- and the remaining funds distributed to various entities.
The fund was established in January of 2010 to "raise and acquire charitable contributions for the support of the Fairhope Police Department" according to incorporation documents.
Funds were used that year to support the Fairhope Mounted Patrol (also now disbanded) and SWAT team, according to records.
In 2011, Mayor Kant filed an ethics complaint (click) against Press when he discovered the fund's account was also being used as a clearinghouse to pay officers for off-duty police work; but after a lengthy investigation, that complaint was denied by the Ethics Commission (click).
The Articles of Dissolution dated March 28, 2013 were signed by President Beverly Corte, Secretary Charles Zunk and Vice President Ann Rumley.
The document was prepared by their attorney Marion Wynne -- who also serves as the City Attorney.
(click documents at right to enlarge)
FUNDS DISTRIBUTED
According to informed sources, the remaining funds were distributed to other similar non-profits including the Fairhope Police Explorers and Daphne Search and Rescue; and the rest to the city's general government fund, where it is to be used for police purposes only.
Title 10A of the Alabama Business and Nonprofit Entities Legal Code governs such distributions (click).
Since it is a private organization not subject to open records laws, the Times has been unable to determine how much remained in the account at the time of dissolution.
(Net assets were listed as $15,964 on their 2010 federal tax return, the last year data is available from non-profit monitoring resources. Income was $75,790 that year.)
'FRIENDS OF FAIRHOPE POLICE'
According to county records, the non-profit 501(c)3 corporation formed in 2010 by former Police Chief Bill Press to raise private funds to aid the police department was dissolved earlier this year -- and the remaining funds distributed to various entities.
The fund was established in January of 2010 to "raise and acquire charitable contributions for the support of the Fairhope Police Department" according to incorporation documents.
Funds were used that year to support the Fairhope Mounted Patrol (also now disbanded) and SWAT team, according to records.
In 2011, Mayor Kant filed an ethics complaint (click) against Press when he discovered the fund's account was also being used as a clearinghouse to pay officers for off-duty police work; but after a lengthy investigation, that complaint was denied by the Ethics Commission (click).The Articles of Dissolution dated March 28, 2013 were signed by President Beverly Corte, Secretary Charles Zunk and Vice President Ann Rumley.
The document was prepared by their attorney Marion Wynne -- who also serves as the City Attorney.
(click documents at right to enlarge)
FUNDS DISTRIBUTED
According to informed sources, the remaining funds were distributed to other similar non-profits including the Fairhope Police Explorers and Daphne Search and Rescue; and the rest to the city's general government fund, where it is to be used for police purposes only.Title 10A of the Alabama Business and Nonprofit Entities Legal Code governs such distributions (click).
Since it is a private organization not subject to open records laws, the Times has been unable to determine how much remained in the account at the time of dissolution.
(Net assets were listed as $15,964 on their 2010 federal tax return, the last year data is available from non-profit monitoring resources. Income was $75,790 that year.)
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