Boulder City residents are being urged to double check their mail after locals started receiving a surprise fundraising letter tied to the National Police Association. The unsolicited mailing leans on alarming crime rhetoric and invites people to sign a "quality-of-life policing" petition, but city officials say any cash sent in response will not benefit the Boulder City Police Department. Instead, they say they have been fielding multiple calls from confused residents and are reminding everyone to verify fundraising requests through official channels before opening their wallets.
The city shared a photo of the letter in a public post, stamping it as a "SCAM ALERT!!" and spelling out that "None of the funds will go to BCPD." Boulder City Nevada on X issued the warning on Wednesday and asked residents to pass along any suspicious mail to authorities instead of responding.
What the mailer asks for and who it names
The letter arrives branded with a National Police Association header and includes a reply form that asks recipients to check a box to add their names to a petition the group says will be presented to local city councils. On its website, the National Police Association describes a national mail campaign to drum up support for "Quality of Life (Broken Windows) policing" and lists a fundraising P.O. Box in Stafford, Texas, along with an Indianapolis address for other correspondence. The group characterizes the petition drive as part of its outreach efforts.
Why local leaders and watchdogs are skeptical
Similar letters have already triggered scam or fraud alerts from police departments in several other states, and charity watchdogs have raised concerns about how the organization operates. Charity Navigator currently gives the National Police Association a 42% overall score and a zero-star rating on accountability and finance, and public filings confirm that the group is registered as a 501(c)(3) under EIN 82-0647764. Nonprofit records posted by ProPublica and a federal appeals court decision that reviewed earlier media coverage lay out the history of the controversial mailings and the litigation that followed, which is summarized in a 7th Circuit opinion.
What to do if you received the letter
Anyone who got the mailing is advised not to respond, not to send money, and to hang on to the envelope as potential evidence. Residents should report suspicious or fraudulent mail to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service either online or by phone, and anyone who lost money is urged to file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other federal agencies also recommend contacting your bank or card issuer right away if you provided payment information. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IC3, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau each offer guidance for potential fraud victims.
Boulder City officials say they plan to pass along any tips to investigators and are asking residents to treat unexpected fundraising letters with caution. Anyone unsure about a request for donations is encouraged to rely on official city communication channels instead of mail solicitations. For questions or verification, residents can review the city's original notice on X or call the police department's nonemergency line before making a decision.
