CrimeStoppers
is a not-for-profit organization consisting of a
volunteer board and a Coordinator,
which is usually a Police Officer. It operates from the
idea that for just about every crime committed, someone
other than the offender knew about it or might have seen
or overheard something suspicious.
It might be you.
How Does It Work?
Each
week an unsolved felony "Crime
of the Week" is selected from police files to be
reported at the actual scene of the crime. It is shown on
television, aired on radio stations throughout the week
and appears in the newspaper.
If any
citizen has information on the featured crime - or any crime
- they call the special CrimeStoppers phone
number [788-8427 or 1-800-397-2288]. The CrimeStoppers
staff logs the call with the date, time and brief summary
of the caller's information.
For
any citizen with information on a crime, CrimeStoppers
offers:
How
Are Citizens Involved?
Citizens
with a tip on the featured "Crime
of the Week" - or any crime - call the special
Crimestopper's phone number. To assure anonymity,
the caller is given a secret code number for any future
communication, and is asked to maintain contact with CrimeStoppers.
If investigation
by law enforcement results in the arrest and filing of criminal
charges against a felony crime offender or the apprehension
of a felony fugitive, CrimeStoppers will make
arrangements with the caller for the cash reward.
How
Is Law Enforcement Involved?
The
tip information is given to the proper law enforcement agency
for investigation. If the information leads to an arrest,
law enforcement informs CrimeStoppers. When
the informant calls back to CrimeStoppers
to check their secret code number, CrimeStoppers makes
arrangements to pay the cash reward.
How
Is The Media Involved?
Support
from television, radio stations and the newspapers is the
critical link to citizen involvement. The "Crime
of the Week" report is filmed at the actual scene
of the crime and reported by the CrimeStoppers
Coordinator.
The
"Crime of the Week" report
increases public interest in CrimeStoppers
and helps locate witnesses who have information leading
to a solution to the crime. All production expenses and
airtime costs are donated by the cooperating media as a
public service.
How
Is CrimeStoppers Funded?
CrimeStoppers
is a nonprofit organization, funded entirely with Fund Raisers
and donations from citizens and civic organizations. Contributions
are TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
What
About The Cash Reward?
All
money raised is used to cover the payment of cash rewards
which can vary from $50 to $1,000 depending on the seriousness
of the crime and the relevance of the tip to the crime.
The
use of a cash reward is offered to motivate citizens who
have information...and anonymity is preserved to overcome
any fear of involvement in a criminal case.
Who
Is In Charge Of The Program?
The
responsibility for setting policy and goals, raising money
and organizing citywide participation is the work of an
independent board of directors made up of concerned citizens.
Click here for information about
the CrimeStoppers President.
What
Can I Do To Help?
If you
or a civic organization wants to know more about CrimeStoppers,
the Coordinator will be happy to
explain the program with a presentation before your group.
More
importantly, we need your support, your involvement and
your contributions. No community program works unless citizens
become involved. No program as critical as CrimeStoppers
- to bring justice and cut down on crime - will succeed
without the contributions of citizens such as you.
