Beginning July 1, an innovative new program will pay a large amount of cash to tipsters who can help area police get illegal guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals.
The Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission, Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline, Kansas City Missouri Police Department, City of Kansas City, Missouri, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), US Attorney’s Office and Jackson County Prosecutor have formed a partnership to address gun crime in our community. These organizations will work in conjunction with local police chiefs and sheriffs on this important metro-wide initiative to address violent crime beginning July 1.
Thanks in large part to donations from the City of Kansas City, Missouri and businesses in our community, the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline is introducing a Gun Bounty program which will pay $1,000 in cash to anonymous callers to the TIPS Hotline for reporting:
1. A tip that leads to the arrest of a suspect,
2. the recovery of a firearm and,
3. the filing of felony charges related to the recovery of the weapon.
This is not a gun buyback program. It is a public safety program designed to remove illegal firearms from the hands of criminals, especially gangs. The anonymous tip must originate through the TIPS Hotline, and area law enforcement will be responsible for confirming the eligibility for reward of tips received. Presently, a fund totaling approximately $32,500 is available for the program. Donations to the fund are welcome and can be sent to the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission – Gun Bounty Program.
The program has been very successful in Miami, and Kansas City is modeling its program after that one.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers Greater Kansas City TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). Tips also can be submitted electronically at KCcrimestoppers.com, or by texting TIP452 and your information to 274637 (CRIMES).
This map (click on it to see a larger version) shows guns recovered and offenses with guns in Kansas City in 2010. We hope the Gun Bounty program will reduce these dots significantly:
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