The Mountain Home Police Department (MHPD) is warning the community of a donation request circulating in the mail that is misleading and does not support the agency.
A mailer from Citizens Behind the Badge based in Merrifield, VA has been making its way into local mailboxes requesting money be donated to the MHPD. The letter requests a check be mailed back to Virginia which in the fine print states the funds will be used to lobby for police causes.
Lieutenant Mike Day of the Criminal Investigation Division for MHPD says they were recently made aware of this misleading mailer when a citizen stopped by to drop off their donation.
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This is not the first instance of Citizens Behind the Badge being under scrutiny as news outlets around the country have reported stories similar to what is being seen in the Twin Lakes area. In 2023 KARK in Little Rock ran a story with the Russellville Police Department calling the mailers a scam and warning their residents the organization was not legitamite.
According to Lieutenant Day the MHPD does not solicite donations using mailers and that although the message in the letter seems to be of a positive nature none of the money donated will support the local department.
Lt. Day suggests contacting the MHPD first to verify the legitamacy of any requests for money.
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The Mountain Home Police Department can be contacted by calling 870-425-6336.
Below is a copy of the letter that the MHPD received from a citizen outlining this misleading donation request.
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