JOHNSTON — The Johnston Fraternal Order of Police has established a Web site to shed light on its various fundraising efforts.

FOP Lodge 16 is a group of local police officers, many of them retired, and the lodge’s use of telemarketers for charitable fundraising efforts has caused some confusion from time to time.

On a few occasions, telemarketers told people they were raising money on behalf of the police, according to Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini. That was a misrepresentation, he said, noting that he supports organizations that raise money for charity.

The purpose of the new Web site — johnstonfop.org — is to enhance the organization’s transparency, and to help people verify any information they might receive from telemarketers, FOP spokeswoman Carol Costa said.

The site documents $77,000 in charitable monies that the FOP has raised and donated since 2002.

“Any time we conduct a campaign we will post that information on the Web site,” said the FOP’s president, Dave DeTora.

“We hope that the people of the town use this site as a resource,” he said.

“We encourage people to visit, communicate and question,” DeTora said. “Our contact information is readily available on the site.”

Mayor Joseph M. Polisena applauded the site after its kickoff late last month.

“This is a very positive step by a very philanthropic organization,” he said. “It shows the dedication of FOP Lodge 16 to the cause of good in the town.”

Costa acknowledged that the lodge had received some reports of misrepresentation by its telemarketers during previous telemarketing campaigns.

Both Costa and Tamburini said the lodge had tried to correct the situation.

In general, Tamburini is more supportive of charitable fundraising efforts that avoid arrangements with telemarketers, but he said he appreciates the lodge’s efforts in the community.

The FOP is not the union organization for the rank-and-file of the Police Department, although various officers on the force are members of the FOP.

“All of the fundraising efforts of the Johnston FOP Lodge 16 go directly back to the community through charitable contributions to organizations such as youth sports, senior citizens’ services and scholarships,” says the FOP’s Web site. “We are committed to charity, service and community.”

The lodge does not raise money for political purposes or to cover the costs of any union negotiation.

The union organization for the Police Department is the International Brotherhood of Police Officers. That organization is also involved with raising money for charitable activities. The IBPO does not use telemarketers.

The union’s president, Officer James Seymour, said he wishes the FOP would stop telemarketing, but he appreciates any efforts the lodge makes to help people get accurate information about its efforts.

mreynold@projo.com