Shop with a Cop

One of this morning's headlines in the Northwest Herald was, "Cops cover Christmas shopping tab." The article was about Saturday's "Shop with a Cop" annual event, which this year included an officer from every jurisdiction in McHenry County (according to the NWH).

But could the headline mean that the cop might actually end up covering the tab for the $150 allocated to the child? Was the money distributed to the officers before Saturday's event, or did they make the purchases out of their own pockets, with the expectation that they will be fully reimbursed?

Perhaps one of the officers or the departments will clarify this.

What's the reason for the question?

On Nov. 25, 2009, I wrote that McHenry County Police Charities, the name associated with Shop with a Cop, was no longer in good standing with the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State. And today it is still not in good standing. You can check for yourself by going to http://www.ilsos.net/; scroll down in the middle to "Corporate/LLC Search/Certificate of Good Standing". Click on that. then on "Search the Real Time ... Database..." Enter "McHenry County Police", Submit, and then click on the single item appearing. Note that the Status is "Not Good Standing."

You'll have to check with the Secretary of State's Office or an attorney to learn whether a corporation can legally conduct business if it is not in good standing. Ask also whether donations should be made to a business not in good standing and whether its tax-exempt status and non-profit status are affected. Is it paying its bills?

All that had been needed was for McHenry County Police Charities to file its Annual Report by September 30, 2009, and pay the required $10.00 fee. An additional fee would have been payable, if the Registered Agent was being changed from Stephen M. Haugh of Crystal Lake.

Did even one police jurisdiction in McHenry County question why McHenry County Police Charities is not in good standing with the Secretary of State?