Non-profit

The Snitch Network

Website:

snitchnetwork.org/

Location:

Saylorsburg, PA

Tax ID:

sn-itch network

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Type:

Law enforcement advocacy

Founded:

2019

President and Founder:

Troi “Star” Torain

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The Snitch Network is a nonprofit aligned with the “Start Snitching” movement oriented around law enforcement reform founded by media personality and “Hip Hop Police” host Troi “Star” Torain.

History

In the summer of 2011, during his tenure as “Star” of “Star & Buc Wild,” a Manhattan public access show, Troi Torain, a media personality and libertarian-leaning activist, started the “Start Snitching Movement,” a nation-wide campaign to encourage individuals to speak to their local police departments about violent crimes affecting their communities. 1

In an interview conducted that year with NBC’s Philadelphia affiliate, Torain discussed his understanding of “snitching,” rebutting criticism that snitching was not honorable, asserting “Everybody’s a snitch…. Everybody who’s on youtube is a snitch to some degree.” He also asserted, “I don’t give a f*** about rehabilitating … for the rest of us…we want something done. And that’s what “start snitching” is about.” 2

Torain started and promoted a “Start Snitching” Twitter account. 3 Notably, in a February 6, 2012 follow-up interview about the movement and his motivations, Torain added that he has been a “cop supporter” for “most” of his life, and even once applied to be a Philadelphia Police Officer. 4

Organization and Financials

In April 2019, in connection with the “Start Snitching” movement, Torain founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Snitch Network (registered as the Snitch Network Corporation) in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. 5 According to Torain’s website, the organization intends to broadly promote community growth while cultivating better relationships between law enforcement professionals and civilians. More particularly, the organization aims to reform the ways in which civilian information is collected and used in connection with law enforcement’s use of force. 6 The organization maintains a website featuring curated links to reports on various crimes, hotlines, and news agencies. 7

According to the organization’s 2019 short-form tax filing with the IRS, Torain is the organization’s only officer and spends an average of 60 hours a week devoted to the organization’s work. Further, according to that same filing, the organization’s original funding amounted to $109,894, of which $47,796 was spent that year on expenses including “meals,” “internet,” “utilities,” and “office supplies.” 8

Troi Torain

Troi Torain (also known by his radio personality name, “Star”) is the founder and president of the Snitch Network, as well as the host of the ideologically aligned internet show “Hip Hop Police.” Prior to his involvement in law enforcement reform, Torain worked variously as an executive in the music industry, pundit, trailer park developer, and radio personality. Largely, however, Torain is known for his “Star” character in connection with “Star & Buc Wild,” a media collaboration between Torain and his half-brother, Timothy Joseph, that has appeared on Manhattan Neighborhood Network Television and HOT97’s radio morning show. 9

References

  1. Chang, David and Brandon Rook. “Radio Host Snitches to NBC Philly.” NBC Philadelphia 10. July 13, 2021. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/radio-host-snitches-to-nbc-philly/1906991/
  2. Chang, David and Brandon Rook. “Radio Host Snitches to NBC Philly.” NBC Philadelphia 10. July 13, 2021. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/radio-host-snitches-to-nbc-philly/1906991/
  3. “Chang, David. ‘Start Snitching’ Movement Still Going Strong.” NBC Philadelphia 10. February 6, 2012. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/start-snitching-movement-still-going-strong/2106878/
  4. “Chang, David. ‘Start Snitching’ Movement Still Going Strong.” NBC Philadelphia 10. February 6, 2012. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/start-snitching-movement-still-going-strong/2106878/
  5. “Snitch Network Corporation.” ProPublica. Accessed February 22, 2022.

    https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/821993541

  6. “About.” TroiTorain.org. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://troitorain.org/
  7. Homepage. SnitchNetwork.org. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://snitchnetwork.org/
  8. Snitch Network Corporation. Return of an Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/821993541
  9. “About.” TroiTorain.org. Accessed February 22, 2022. https://troitorain.org/
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The Snitch Network

163 Warner Drive
Saylorsburg, PA