More good coverage on law-enforcement charity scams

At the Austin Statesman, Tony Plohetski has a story on law-enforcement themed charities including the Texas Highway Patrol Association that claim to raise money for officer death benefits then spend the overwhelming majority of funds on telemarketing and feathering their nests. Particularly interesting is his account of mostly unsuccessful legislative efforts in the '90s to rein in the practice.

See related Grits posts:

• Texas AG sues highway patrol charity scam
• Sleazy charity scams should be shut down by the IRS or regulated by Texas Lege
• Millions in fundraising for so-called charity pays paltry death benefits to dead troopers' families
• Of buzzards, road kill, charity scams and the Texas Highway Patrol Association
• Houston police union rolling in cash, but six-figure thefts went unnoticed for years
• Sleazy telemarketers capitalize on public sympathy for fallen police