FAQ

The No Police Money Pledge
Candidates and Elected Officials of all levels are welcome and encouraged to sign the No Police Money in Politics pledge. Questions? Reach out to hello@nopolicemoney.org.

The No Police Money pledge:
“I pledge not to take contributions from police unions or associations, not to seek their endorsement and to publicly reject their independent expenditures. I will instead prioritize the wellbeing and safety of every member of our community.”

 

Is this pledge the same as defunding the police?

No, the No Police Money in Politics Pledge is not the same as defunding the police. The No Police Money in Politics Pledge is a commitment elected officials and candidates make to refuse campaign donations from police unions. Defunding the police is a public policy proposal to reduce police budgets and reinvest those funds into the services and resources that actually make our communities safer. 

There is no requirement in the pledge to defund the police. Elected officials and candidates who sign the No Police Money in Politics Pledge are more likely to support policies that hold police officers accountable because they are not being influenced by campaign donations from police unions.

Why Should I Take The No Police Money in Politics Pledge?

We all want to feel safe in our communities. But police aren’t the only ones with ideas on what that should look like—and yet, they’ve played an outsized role in elections. Far too many of our elected officials are in the pockets of police unions. As a result, most serious discussions about reimagining public safety in general and ending policing’s disproportionate harm to Black communities, in particular, get shut down before they can even begin. How can our elected officials hold the police accountable when they’re also receiving donations from them? 

The No Police Money in Politics pledge tells voters, potential donors, the media and the public that a candidate is willing to stand with every person that wants to be safe in their community.

What Does It Mean To Take The No Police Money in Politics Pledge?

Taking the pledge means that a candidate’s campaign will not knowingly accept any contributions from the PACs, lobbyists or front groups of the police industry—organizations, associations and unions whose primary work is in the policing of people in America. 

The pledge is forward-looking and applies from the moment a candidate takes the pledge onward. It does not apply retroactively to past contributions. 

That said, taking the pledge in the same election that you’ve taken money from police interests does not meet the spirit of the pledge. We suggest donating that money to groups that are working to reimagine safety for your community.

Public Safety is important to me, does taking the pledge mean I can’t work with Police?

Absolutely not.

We want elected offcials to understand that a big part of their roles as elected officials is to hold police accountable for bad behavior, abuses of power and—especially—violence. Acting independently from police unions and others is essential to the work of accountability and donation transparency. 

How Does A Candidate Sign The Pledge?

To sign the No Police Money in Politics pledge:

  1. Make sure you know what you are commiting to by reading everything available at nopolicemoney.org.

  2. Take the pledge with public proof. Proof can be a) photo or video of a candidate signing the pledge and a scan of the pledge it self b) a virtual commitment by posting on your website, social media with the language of the pledge or a graphic using our logo available at nopolicemoney.org/logo

  3. Fill out the pledge form at nopolicemoney.org with your proof and contact information nopolicemoney.org/pledge. 

Use the pledge-signing moment as an opportunity to highlight your commitment, by publicly sharing a photo of you signing the pledge, releasing a short campaign video explaining your reasoning, or even sending out a fundraising appeal based on the pledge.

But I Support Unions. Why Should I Reject Police Union Money?

Workers have a fundamental right to organize and use their collective strength to ensure fair treatment and compensation. But when police unions perpetuate harm by protecting violent police officers and create barriers to officer accountability and policy change, they are working against everything worker protection is about.

Elected officials have a responsibility to hold police accountable for bad behavior, abuses of power and—especially—violence. In doing so, they—and you— must act independently from police unions and others determined to stand in the way of common sense solutions that keep communities safe.

For example, if you haven’t been paying close attention, you might be under the impression that the surge in crime is a direct result of defunding the police. Police unions and many of the elected officials in their pockets have been flooding the public discourse with this misinformation while other elected officials taking police money have simply remained mum in response. The constant drumbeat of this misinformation has warped the perception of the state of public safety, when in reality, supposedly progressive cities like Portland have actually increased their police budgets.

What Type Of Contributions Does The Pledge Apply To?

The No Police Money in Politics pledge applies specifically to contributions from PACs, lobbyists or front groups of the police industry—organizations, associations and unions whose primary work is in the policing of people in America.

What Does The Pledge Mean By “Lobbyists”?

The pledge includes rejecting contributions from the federal and state and/or local registered lobbyists of the police industry. This includes both “in-house” registered lobbyists who work directly for police interests, and outside registered lobbyists at external lobbying firms who are registered to lobby on behalf of one or more police interests. 

Which companies does the pledge apply to?

The No Police Money in Politics pledge applies to companies whose primary work is in the policing of people in America defined in the following ways.

  • The organization is listed in the OpenSecrets.org database (which covers federal campaign contributions) or the FollowTheMoney.org database (which covers state and local campaign contributions) under the “Police Unions & Associations” classifications.

  • The organization is a trade association that works on behalf of police:

    • A police association such as the Fraternal Order of Police

  • You are welcome to reach out to the No Police Money in Politics team with any questions. The team is available to check any contribution or organization to ensure you are meeting the spirit of the pledge.

What Should I Do If I Receive A Prohibited Contribution?

If you take the pledge and then receive a prohibited contribution, your campaign should act within a reasonable timeframe to address the contribution. The preferred action is for your campaign to return the money. Alternatively, you can donate that money (if allowed by law) to groups that are working to reimagine safety for your community.

What Is The Process For Resolving A Potential Violation Of The Pledge?

It’s true, we can’t actively monitor all contributions to make sure candidates follow the pledge. If we’re alerted to a possible violation of the pledge, we will investigate. If a violation has occurred, we’ll notify the candidate and give them one week to return or donate the contribution(s) in question. If the candidate returns the contribution, they will remain on the pledge. If not, they will be removed from the list of pledge signers. We may publicize such a violation.

What If I Run For Reelection? Or Run For A Different Office?

When you take the No Police Money in Politics pledge, you are making a commitment to stand independent from the police industry. We think a pledge signer is a pledge signer indefinitely, though you are welcome and encouraged to re-sign the No Police Money pledge during any future election or reelection campaigns. 

You will always be listed on the No Police Money in Politics website with the most recent office you have run for as a signer. And if you want to withdraw your pledge, please get in touch by emailing us at hello@nopolicemoney.org and we’ll note that you’ve withdrawn on the website.