September is national Crime Stoppers Month, so I think this is a great time to recognize the immense assistance the Crime Stoppers program provides in solving crime in Kansas City. This also is a special year for the Kansas City Crime Stoppers program, which will celebrate their 30th anniversary in October.
Since their inception in 1982, the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline has generated more than 10,180 felony arrests, including the clearance of 598 homicides, 1,581 robberies, and 2,890 fugitive arrests. So far this year alone, Crime Stoppers has helped solve four homicides, 25 robberies and capture 104 fugitives. They have paid out $26,750 in rewards in 2012, and more than $1.2 million since the program started 30 years ago.
Our detectives rely on the tips that come from the TIPS Hotline. The Hotline’s dedication to anonymity is crucial. Through this medium, witnesses who have information that can solve felony crimes can report it directly to law enforcement without any fear of retaliation. The cash rewards are another incentive for reluctant witnesses to come forward.
Crime Stoppers was founded in 1976 and now has 1,000 programs worldwide, including 350 in the United States. According to Crime Stoppers USA Chairman K. Scott Abrams, “Crime Stoppers brings together businesses, citizens, law enforcement and the media to combat crime. It is important for the criminal element to know members of the community are watching and reporting their activities.”
While we appreciate the work of the TIPS Hotline every day, during this national Crime Stoppers Month, it’s important to point out how much work this organization does making Kansas City safer.
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