I received a phone call the other day that prompted me to write this letter.  The phone call was a phone solicitor asking for another donation.  He explained that he was with the American Deputies Association.  He implied that he was associated with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and that his organization had used donated money from the past to buy equipment (bullet proof vests) for LCSO.  I asked him questions about the equipment and how much they donated this year to LCSO or to any Sheriff’s Office in the state of NE; he could not answer any of my questions.  When I told him that his organization had not donated one dime to LCSO he stopped talking (hard to believe, I know).  I then told him that I was a deputy sheriff for LCSO.  He promptly hung up on me.  I am sure that many of you have these phone calls on a daily basis.  Many organizations rely on this type of solicitation to raise funds. Unfortunately, these types of organized solicitation drives incur high administrative costs, it is not uncommon to find that only 15 cents of every dollar donated actually goes to the organization that they say they represent.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Employee’s Association, also known as Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge #26 has decided at this time to no longer use phone solicitation as a way of raising money.  We are as tired of these types of phone calls as you are.  You may have read our advertisement in the paper or heard on the radio that we are raffling a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. This will replace phone solicitation as our method of fundraising. The past five motorcyles were won by North Platte residents.

We will again be selling a limited amount (3500) of tickets ($10.00) at various events and through lodge member sales. There will be no high-pressure sales pitch.   If you choose to purchase a chance to win this magnificent bike then we want to thank you for your support. If you have already given your allotment to charities at this time, then that is fine too.

Our organization does many things for Lincoln County. We have donated money to the Lincoln County DARE program and local high school drug/alcohol free parties.  We have provided over 200 meals for needy Lincoln County families during holidays, sponsored local sports teams, and produced a drug/alcohol and abuse awareness magazine, as well as other services. Previously, we sponsored the Lincoln County Criminal Justice Scholarship program, where $500 per year was given away to Lincoln County residents who furthered their education in any part of the Criminal Justice field.

If you would like to know more about FOP Lodge #26, browse the web site. If you wish to purchase any tickets please click on the Order Tickets button to the left.  If you have questions, feel free to e-mail me from this web site.

John Davis

President FOP Lodge #26

PO Box 826

North Platte, NE  69101