Copyright 2006 Boston Herald Inc.
By MICHELE McPHEE
The Boston Herald
BOSTON, Mass. — A Boston charity dedicated to community policing is putting the arm on area businesses to pay for a lavish weeklong convention of police chiefs hosted by Hub top cop Kathleen O’Toole, the Herald has learned.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference - scheduled to flood Boston with 15,000 law enforcement professionals in October - is raising eyebrows in police circles because corporate sponsors have been asked to pony up exorbitant donations to pay for it.
The solicitations sent to 200 Bay State businesses offer sponsorship packages ranging from $100,000 for “title sponsors” to $10,000 for “bronze sponsorships.”
Title sponsors are given tickets to an intimate dinner with O’Toole and 60 other top cops from around the country at the Langham Hotel. Another $100,000 package offers an “elaborate event” at the Hampshire House with “O’Toole and members of her command staff,” during which guests will “take with them a gift assortment of `Cheers’ souvenirs.”
“It’s not corrupt, but it’s tacky. It gives the appearance of selling influence with police commanders,” said a high-ranking New York police official who requested anonymity. “The events smell of corporate CEOs buying face time with Boston police officials.”
In fact, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly canceled a similiar dinner three years ago because the nonprofit group Finest Foundation was selling a $50,000 “Commissioner’s Package” that included “the opportunity to have a high-ranking law enforcement official at your table.”
Kelly cited the “appearance of impropriety” when he canceled the event.
In an interview with the Herald, O’Toole said she “purposely directed” fund-raisers not to use her name in solicitation materials, but her name appears throughout.
Fund-raising efforts are being made by Liberty Mutual CEO Edmund “Ted” Kelly and checks are being made out to the Boston Foundation, which raises money for community policing.
“There is no influence for sale in Boston,” O’Toole said. “The businesses involved are trying to be good citizens here. They are investing in an event that will be great for the city.”
She insisted that the events planned for the conference, including Boston duck boat tours, pricey luncheons, fashion shows and even singers to serenade the chiefs, are similiar to events in other IACP host cities.
“No public money goes to paying for the event. The only cost we are assuming is security for the dignitaries,” O’Toole said.
O’Toole said she has directed the Boston Police Foundation to donate any surplus funds collected on behalf of the IACP conference to Hub children’s charities.
Yesterday, Mayor Thomas M. Menino said corporate sponsors are “not buying influence.”
“They are buying the ability to have a face-to-face conversation with the police commissioner,” Menino said, adding that O’Toole and her commanders have too much integrity to be bought.
So far, fund-raisers have collected in excess of $100,000. The goal for the conference is $550,000, said Liberty Mutual spokesman John Cusalito. But he declined to say which businesses have contributed.
“All the supporters will be acknowledged during the event,” said Cusalito. “This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase Boston and bring businesses here.”