The Harford County Deputy Sheriff's Union, which has overseen a massive community fundraising effort that has netted hundreds of thousands of dollars for the families of two slain Harford County Sheriff's Office deputies, has severed its relationship with a local business owner who sold T-shirts and other apparel from which part of the proceeds was to be given to the union's benevolent fund.
Fred Visnaw, president of the Deputy Sheriff's Union, said in a statement that the relationship between the union and East Coast Sportswear has been terminated after a dispute arose over whether the amount of money being donated was correct, based on the volume of merchandise sold.
"Based on our inventory management audit, we know that thousands of garments, including T-shirts, sweat shirts, hats and other pieces of apparel and accessories were sold during the several-week effort," Visnaw stated. "Unfortunately, we have been unable to successfully reconcile the proceeds for an appropriate fund donation."
Dan McClure, a native of Havre de Grace and co-owner of East Coast Sportswear in Towson, began selling "Support the Blue" branded merchandise in late February, with a pledge that a percentage of every item sold would be donated to the union's benevolent fund.
The benevolent fund, which is set up to assist law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMS workers, or their families, when those first responders are injured or killed in the line of duty, has received more than $770,000 from various sources in the community since the Feb. 10 murders of Senior Deputy Patrick Dailey and Deputy First Class Mark Logsdon, according to Visnaw.
The money has come from concerts and other events, special purchase deals at local restaurants and other businesses and through donations from individuals, organizations and businesses, among many avenues.
Visnaw said via telephone that he preferred not to comment beyond the union's written statement, which appears with this article.
McClure initially sold his "Support the Blue" merchandise in Looney's Pub in Bel Air, and later in February from a donated storefront in the Boulevard at Box Hill shopping center in Abingdon, near where the deputies were shot to death responding to a complaint about a man inside the center's Panera Bread cafe. The space donation was provided for one month by Ward Properties, the master developer of Box Hill. The man responsible for the fatal shootings, David Evans, was shot to death by other deputies.
McClure expressed surprise about Visnaw's allegations of a severed relationship and a dispute over fundraising when contacted by an Aegis reporter Tuesday morning. He referred questions to his attorney, James S. Pezzulla, of Towson.
"My clients, East Coast Sportswear and its principal, Dan McClure, expressly disagree with and are saddened by the statements issued by the Harford County Sheriff's Benevolent Fund," Pezzulla said in an emailed statement Tuesday afternoon.
Pezzulla noted that McClure grew up in Harford County and is "an active member of its business community."
He stated McClure was moved by the deputies' deaths and has been "working tirelessly on a volunteer basis to raise money for the benefit of their families."
"As a result of Mr. McClure's efforts and those of the other volunteers who devoted their time and energy to the 'Support the Blue' cause, the Harford County Sheriff's Benevolent Fund received a substantial amount of money and inventory of apparel and other goods for the benefit of the Dailey and Logsdon families," according to Pezzulla, who also stated that the benevolent fund "took control of the 'Support the Blue' inventory and sales efforts" March 6.
"East Coast Sportswear provided a detailed accounting of its sales and its costs along with supporting documentation," Pezzulla said. "To date, neither Mr. McClure nor this office has received notification of any questions or requests for clarification or additional details regarding the information provided."
According to Visnaw, administrators of the Benevolent Fund are working set up a "retail outlet" for the fund "where all proceeds will directly benefit the charity."
A fundraising golf tournament is scheduled for Thursday at Mountain Branch Golf Course in Joppa.
"The generosity of the greater community was more than any of us could have imagined or ever hoped for," Visnaw stated.