Barrington police investigate police union fundraiser
BARRINGTON – The Barrington police and Rhode Island Attorney General's Office are investigating after a fundraiser for the department's police union allegedly encouraged donations by referring to the death of a Barrington mother and son in a plane crash.
Police Chief Col. Michael E. Correia said the reference was believed to have been made more than once by a now former employee of a company contracted to raise money for the union.
"At no time did any member of the Barrington Police union authorize TCI America or any of their employees to use the Lane Family to encourage a donation," Correia said in a press release.
Sixteen-year-old figure skater Spencer Lane and his mother, Christine Conrad Lane, were killed in a mid-air collision at Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C. on Jan. 26. They were among the 67 people on board a passenger jet that collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River. Spencer Lane was one of several victims who were members of the Skating Club of Boston returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Spencer's father, Doug, and brother, Milo, were not on the plane.
The Police Department started its investigation into the fundraising on Feb. 21 after the administrator of Temple Habonim contacted the police about "a suspicious fundraising solicitation," according to Correia. The police were told that an employee of TCI America, the fundraising company, asked the administrator and the rabbi for a donation on behalf of the police union, Correia said. The employee also referenced the Lane family, Correia said.
The police have discovered two donations linked to the use of the Lane family's name, according to Correia. The police have also identified the person who solicited the donations and believe the "scheme" is limited to the former employee, Correia said. The police say they have identified additional victims and will continue to investigate, Correia said.
"Every effort will be made to return all donations obtained by this 'scheme,' " Correia said.
The police ask anyone who believes they were a victim to contact them at 401-437-3930.
TCI America is cooperating with the investigation, Correia said.
The police will seek charges against "any and all persons involved," if they find probable cause of a crime, Correia said.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Barrington police: Fundraiser not authorized to reference Lane family
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