City officials are drafting an ordinance that would make it illegal for telephone fundraisers to falsely claim they are affiliated with the City of Des Plaines or its Police and Fire Departments.
“We’ve had an ongoing problem with solicitors, and it seems that within the last week that residents, primarily senior residents, have been overwhelmed by aggressive and intimidating fundraisers who call and abuse them while claiming they are soliciting funds for the Des Plaines police,” Police Chief Jim Ryan said last week.
Ryan said his department does not solicit funds by telephone.
While some police unions solicit contributions by telephone, a large percentage of the proceeds raised from those calls pays commissions for the solicitors, he said.
Fire Chief Tom Farinella said telephone fundraising efforts also have named his department.
Local fire officials do not solicit contributions by telephone, Farinella said.
Ryan recently asked Assistant City Atty. Ray Bartel to draft an ordinance based on one approved last year in Addison, officials said.
The ordinance likely would become a part of a more general solicitation ordinance that mandates fines of $25 to $750 for violators, Bartel said.
The City Council will vote March 18 on the ordinance.