If you’ve received a notice from the organization called “Citizens Behind the Badge,” you’ve been scammed, Lyndhurst Police Det. Lt. Vincent Auteri tells The Observer.
Auteri said the group has send out letters via snail mail and in the letters, they claim to be representing the Lyndhurst Police Department. They’re not, however. And in the letters, they’re asking residents to send donations.
Auteri wants everyone to know — perhaps even residents not from Lyndhurst — that any solicitation from this organization is fake and should be ignored. Never send them money.
The person in the photo is not affiliated with the Lyndhurst PD in any way.
It is possible the solicitations could be posted on social media and/or sent to residents of other towns.
“Lyndhurst Police Benevolent Association Local No. 202 may solicit donations on a yearly basis, but no police agency is affiliated with Citizens Behind the Badge,” Chief Richard L. Jarvis Jr. said. “We strongly encourage residents to do their research about an organization before making donations to them.”
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.