Why did GoFundMe drop account supporting Baltimore cops?

CBS News ^ | 05/01/2015 | staff

[Kid Shelleen]

GoFundMe.com said it has taken down the fundraising campaign for the Baltimore police officers charged with the death of Freddie Gray because it violates the website's policy.

The Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police created the page on Friday in hopes of creating a defense fund for their members involved in the case, but it was quickly taken down because according to the company, funds cannot be used for people accused of serious crimes.

"The campaign clearly stated that the money raised would be used to assist the officers with their legal fees, which is a direct violation of GoFundMe's terms," said GoFundMe.com spokesperson Kelsea Little.

[fatnotlazy]

“What's stopping us from creating our own source-funding site or donating directly to our causes?”

***

I don't trust these sites at all. Who knows where my credit card or other information will end up? And how do I know the person or entity who created the account won't siphon off some of the money? As it is, Gofundme takes 5% for its “expenses.”

Being an old-fashioned gal I'd rather just send a check. Safer that way plus I know all the money I send goes to the people who need it.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Minutefundme.com?

[Dr. Pritchett]

Dang, man, don’t thee cops have a UNION? Where the hell is the police union in all this??

[US_MilitaryRules]

PleaseFundMe.com

[P-Marlowe]

Go Fund Me is going to go out of business. They made more money in one week funding the pizza joint than they made all year and under pressure from the political correct Nazis (and I suspect they are in agreement with these Nazis) they shut down any fund raising effort which might support some christian or conservative cause.

Go Fund Me is run by Feminazi Gaystappo Al Sharpton supporters.

Some people just don’t know how to do capitalism.

[PROCON]

Fundingagainstevil.com

[molson209]

The Obama Admin is involved somewhere

[discostu]

Because really who wants to be the place everybody goes to to make boycotts and other punishments not happen? “Come to GoFundMe and get money from the people who hate the people that hate you” is just not a good ad line.

[moehoward]

"Right. Why couldn’t they just use a paypal account?"

Looks like it's cheaper too. gofundme is 5%, paypal is 4%(ish)

[rockrr]

Why not cut to the chase and simply call it “Gimmee” !

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

LOL! I like it. I like it a lot.

[Mercat]

I think that they stopped funding for businesses that were convicted under the evil laws in Oregon. And I agree. This looks to me like an opportunity. GoFundMe owes no one anything. They can do whatever they want.

[drpix]

Funny how GoFundMe.com has no problem with funding those arrested for the rioting, looting and destruction/burning of Baltimore (link below):

Baltimore Protesters Bail Bond Fund

Raising funds for 3 people described as follows.

"The teenager was charged with eight criminal counts, including rioting and malicious destruction of property."

"{The} 43-year-old grandmother was also arrested and received $100,000 bail for two charges of fourth-degree theft and burglary."

The charges against the 3rd person are withheld by the fundraiser(s)!

Is it to be credibly claimed that rioting, looting and burning are not serious or not crimes? Or that any rational person would not expect those crimes to put more people in danger of death than a rough & bumpy ride in a paddy wagon with handcuffs but not a seatbelt?

[tenger]

I just checked and pleasefundme.com is taken

[JimRed]

What's stopping us from creating our own source-funding site or donating directly to our causes?

We're the ones too busy working to support the underclasses to have the time or resources to move that along.

[drpix]

CORRECTION:

"...expect those crimes to put more ^{likely put} people in danger of death than...

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Hear, hear!

[CurlyDave]

Dang, man, don’t thee cops have a UNION? Where the hell is the police union in all this??

Your comment is spot on.

Of course these cops have a union. There are just over 3000 officers in Baltimore, and about 1000 other employees of the police department.

If each of the officers in Baltimore donated just 0.2% of his/her take-home salary to the six suspended officers this would replace their pay while they are suspended.

Doesn't seem like that much of a burden to me.

The union should have legal representation on retainer for exactly this type of problem, and that should handle the immediate legal costs.

Looking at other high-profile cases, they may be able to get very good legal representation for a quite modest cost, and if they really want/need a very high priced, high cost attorney there is plenty of time to look into that in the next few weeks and months.

The median police salary plus bonus in Baltimore is $53,958 per year. This is just for patrol officers, not for higher ranks, who make more, much more sometimes. If each of 3000 officers gave $500 to a special union assessment for legal costs they would have a $1.5 million dollar legal fund, which would go a long way toward a strong defense. And this does not even start to cover the donations they could get from other unions around the country.

But, like unions everywhere, these guys would rather spend someone else's money than their own.

There is going to have to be a lot of transparency on the union's finances, reserve funds, and ability to internally raise money before I donate to their costs.

* * * * * * * * * *

It is really hard for me to believe there was no police misconduct at all when they put a healthy man into the van and took a fatally-injured one out. If they had driven directly to the station they ride would have been only a couple of blocks.

I expect that they will end up with some kind of a plea bargain rather than a trial. This even further reduces the legal costs.

[joemsewi]

I will contribute to any legitimate fund established for the 6 Baltimore Policemen. I will not ever contribute to a GoFundMe listing (I have in the past).

[Mygirlsmom]

What about I’m In. Or CountMeIn