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Stockton Homepage |
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Police Programs
Crime Prevention |
Stockton Crime Stoppers, Inc.
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How did Crime Stoppers Begin? In July of 1976, a shooting occurred at a service station in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The service station attendant, Michael Carmen, who was also a student at the University of New Mexico, was shot with a shotgun and killed. Albuquerque Police Investigators worked for six weeks trying to piece together enough evidence to solve this murder. Requests for information had been put out into the community by way of radio, television, and newspaper. The service station also offered a reward of $1,000 and 48 hours later, two men were arrested who were later convicted for this murder. This is when the Crime Stoppers Program and a "world-wide anti-crime" movement began. |
About Stockton Crime Stoppers On April 13, 1981, Stockton Crime Stoppers, Inc., became the first Crime Stoppers Program to be implemented in California. Since its inception, the Stockton Crime Stoppers Program has grown to be one of the most effective programs in the United States. Tips received through Crime Stoppers have directly resulted in the clearing of more than 4,500 cases, more than 2,700 arrests made, and the payment of more than $223,000 in rewards. Add that to the recovery of more than $4,843,000 in property, money, and narcotics seized, and you will see that Crime Stoppers DOES PAY! Currently, there are approximately 26 programs throughout the state of California. To view wanted persons and victims in the Stockton area, go to: StocktonCrimeStoppers.org |
About Crime Stoppers International Today,
there are more than 1,100 programs in over 18
countries including Australia, the British West
Indies, Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Figi,
Jamaica, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Puerto Rico,
South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United
States, and other U.S. territories. Crime Stoppers Programs worldwide have helped to clear over 1,000,000 cases, make more than 611,000 arrests, and recover more than $6,293,000,000 in money, property, and narcotics seizures. Worldwide, more than $68,222,000 in rewards have been paid to anonymous tipsters. Click here to link to the Crime Stoppers International Web page. |
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How Crime Stoppers Works Crime Stoppers is based on the concept that information on every crime committed in a community exists somewhere within that community. With help from the local media, newspapers, radio, and television, the word is spread that Crime Stoppers will pay cash rewards for vital information. Crime Stoppers is a program for people who want to become involved by reporting a crime or assisting law enforcement without the fear of being singled out or forced to give up their identity. People who call Crime Stoppers with information concerning criminal activity or fugitives wanted by the Police are given a code number rather than asked to identify themselves. This way the caller feels better about making the call. They can also utilize their assigned code numbers when they make additional calls with updated information. We want THEIR name(s), not yours. Information from callers is taken and passed on to Investigators. When fugitives wanted for felony crimes are arrested, cash rewards are then paid out. The Crime Stoppers Program operates solely on funds received during fundraising campaigns and from tax deductible donations made by businesses and people in the community who support and believe in Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers is governed by a board of directors which is made up of members from the business community, business owners, and citizens who volunteer their time.
School Crime Stoppers, Campus Crime Stoppers, Scholastic Crime Stoppers School Crime Stoppers began in Boulder, Colorado. The program has really taken off in several additional states such as New Mexico, Texas, and California. Texas has implemented numerous School Crime Stoppers Programs which are working quite well. School Crime Stoppers Programs have been implemented in Lodi's local high schools working through the regular Crime Stoppers Program. Stockton Crime Stoppers can be utilized by students to make anonymous calls whenever there is information such as drugs being stored or sold on campus, weapons carried or kept in lockers, fights brewing, shootings, or if information is known regarding stolen autos. Most of the time, school officials will be needed in order to get into these lockers. Contraband will be handled by Police while most discipline can be dealt with by school officials.
How Crime Stoppers Can Be Started on Campus FACT: A school DOES NOT need to dedicate a phone line or maintain files or have additional staffing to start a School Crime Stoppers Program. The Crime Stoppers Program already in place can be utilized by calling the tips number of (209) 946-0600. School Resource Officers (SROs) can be extremely helpful in getting a School Crime Stoppers Program off the ground. They can assist by educating school officials and assuring students that if they have crime tips, their identity will be kept anonymous. They can advertise this program on campus by placing Crime Stopper-type posters, newspaper articles regarding "wanted persons," Crime Stoppers statistics, and the anonymous tips telephone number of (209) 946-0600 on SRO bulletin boards. When a tip is received, Crime Stoppers doesn't know who the student is unless they give their name. The Crime Stoppers Program is not interested in getting the reporting student's name, the preference is to identify them with a code number. Being paid rewards for information given resulting in contraband being seized or arrests made with cases being solved can also help. Although the Crime Stoppers Program pays out rewards on felony crimes and fugitives wanted for felonies, some concessions may be made for the school Crime Stoppers program. With serious situations on school campuses such as the Cleveland School, Columbine, and the most recent close call at an Elk Grove High School, the need for a School Crime Stoppers is extremely important. We are all aware that when a major incident occurs on a school campus, the fallout is incredible. There is anger, hurt, resentment, lack of trust, and many other emotions which will last for years. If but only one rape, shooting, or major crime is prevented or solved through the use of School Crime Stoppers, then the program is very much worth having.
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