January is Crime Stoppers month

January has been designated as Crime Stoppers Month and is being proclaimed as such by leaders and heads of state worldwide. This year’s theme is “Helping to Stop, Solve, and Prevent Crime - Together”, recognizing the value of a united partnership in the fight against crime globally; right down to the streets of our local communities.
Crime Stoppers is a unique civilian owned and governed program that, through its partnerships with the public, media and law enforcement, provide a means for the public to anonymously and safely provide information pertaining to any unsolved crime.
Under the leadership and governance of a civilian Executive and Board of Directors, volunteers assist in the program’s activities and fundraising within Northwestern Ontario and Northern Minnesota. The funds raised by Crime Stoppers are allocated to operate the program and pay cash rewards to anonymous callers whose information assists law enforcement agencies in solving previously unsolved crime.
Local Crime Stoppers Coordinator, O.P.P. Detective Constable Gary Potter, states that “within NW. Ontario and N. Minnesota this local program handles around 1700 contacts via telephone and online annually of which turned into over 400 usable tips for law enforcement in 2008. In 2008, 49 charges, predominantly drug related, were laid as a result of Crime Stoppers anonymous tips.”

Detective Constable Potter went on to state that “it is of interest to note that in 2008 this local program assisted law enforcement in another jurisdiction to solve a previously unsolved homicide. This information would not have been received, and all of the resulting crime that was solved in 2008 and before would not have been achieved, therefore speaks volumes about the effectiveness of this regional Crime Stoppers program in solving unsolved crime.”