The International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) is a North American police union, and is chartered as a national union that represents law enforcement and support personnel with the AFL–CIO. Organization Local police unions join the IUPA to secure collective bargaining rights and afford their members job security. The IUPA negotiates on behalf of local unions for better wages, benefits, and working conditions in their contracts. The IUPA offers assistance on such items as equipment recommendation or budget issues, and will send a representative to speak for the union. Besides help with legal representation, the IUPA offers financial, insurance, and health services, educational opportunities, police products, and home services. Apart from police officers, IUPA also represents some corrections officers and medical first responders. An extensive investigation completed by the non profit Center for Public Integrity revealed that the IUPA has mostly become a sham fund raiser organization that provides little to no benefit to law enforcement officers. For example, in 2018, the IUPA only gave 2.7% of its raised funds to law enforcement families. The majority of its operating budget funds an extravagant salary for the IUPA Director and various telemarking companies. The IUPA publishes NewsWatch, a weekly publication for the law enforcement community. The organization has been criticized for its status as charity: it received a 'D−' rating from the Better Business Bureau, and was listed among America's worst charities by the Tampa Bay Times in 2014 because of its low spending on its mission. IUPA operates under multiple trade names, including 'Police Officers Support Association' and 'National Emergency Responders Coalition'. The majority of their budget is spent on fundraising. In 2017, the IUPA raised about US$13 million through solicitors, of which almost US$12 million went to the solicitors. Leadership The union had, as of 2020, three compensated 'IUPA officer' positions listed on its website: Sam Cabral, who has been 'international president' since 1995 and officer of the organization since 1988. Cabral retired in 1991 from the Defiance, Ohio detective bureau. Mike Crivello is the 'international vice president' and former 'union president' (2010–18). Crivello retired in 2009 from the USAF Security Police, and in 2019 from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Police Department. Its board further consists of a number of uncompensated vice-presidents and had a total of 16 voting board members in 2016. History In 1954 the predecessor of the IUPA, the National Conference of Police Associations (NCPA) was founded