ABOUT CRIME STOPPERS OF SIMCOE-DUFFERIN-MUSKOKA

MISSION STATEMENT

"Crime Stoppers is a partnership of the public, police and media which provides the community with a proactive Program to anonymously assist in solving crime and contributing to an improved quality of life"

BRIEF HISTORY OF CRIME STOPPERS

Crime Stoppers was started in Albuquerque, New Mexico when a young Canadian-born Albuquerque, New Mexico Police Detective had reached a dead end in a homicide investigation. The lack of witnesses and evidence at a fatal shooting of a gas bar attendant frustrated police. The News Media were asked for their assistance. A re-enactment of the crime was taped and a separate phone line was installed. An appeal went out to the public to call in with any information that would assist in solving this murder. A guarantee was given to the public that callers would not be asked to identify themselves and they would be eligible for a cash reward if the information assisted the police.

The telephones rang and within twenty-four hours, the case was solved!

So successful was this first effort that the program was subsequently refined and the concept spread rapidly. There are presently thirty-nine (39) independently run Crime Stoppers programs in Ontario, 77 in Canada and more than 1,200 programs world wide.

Crime Stoppers of Simcoe-Dufferin-Muskoka is the only organization of its kind in our area. Each program operates under the same mandate, however is solely responsible for raising the necessary funds to support its operating costs and pay cash rewards.

HISTORY OF CRIME STOPPERS OF SIMCOE-DUFFERIN-MUSKOKA

Crime Stoppers of Simcoe-Dufferin-Muskoka was established January 12, 1987 and became Incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization on February 11, 1987. Crime Stoppers is not a police program nor funded by the provincial or federal government or from police agencies but operated with monies generously donated from the private sector, by businesses and monies raised through fundraising done by the volunteer Board. The program currently has thirteen (13) Board members who live, work and play in the program area of Simcoe-Dufferin-Muskoka who are responsible for raising the necessary funds to operate the program and pay the cash rewards.

Our programs area is unique in that we cover from Orangeville to Huntsville which incorporates the Counties of Simcoe and Dufferin and the District Municipality of Muskoka in the Province of Ontario. This encompasses an area of 12,610 square kilometers (7,881 square miles) involving twelve (12) Townships. The major centers include Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Orillia, Midland, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Barrie, Shelburne and Orangeville. Our program is the third largest program geographically.

CRIME STOPPERS OF SIMCOE-DUFFERIN-MUSKOKA MISSION STATEMENT

Crime Stoppers of Simcoe-Dufferin-Muskoka is a non profit charitable organization designed to assist the Police in solving unsolved crimes, making our communities and schools a better and safer place to live.

Contributing to the security of persons and property by assisting law enforcement in the investigation and prevention of crime.

Offering and delivering cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of persons charged with the commission of criminal offences on an anonymous basis.

Promoting respect for the law, the courts and the police and to assist in the education of persons to respect honesty and condemn violence outside the law.

Promoting, developing, encouraging and fostering a high standard of cooperation between the police, the news media and the community to obtain information to solve serious crimes already committed and to prevent crimes from being committed.

CRIME STOPPERS OF SIMCOE-DUFFERIN-MUSKOKA MANDATE

Crime Stoppers of Simcoe-Dufferin-Muskoka mandate is to assist the Police in solving crimes thereby making our communities and schools safer. Our program encourages members of the community to call anonymously with information that assists in solving crimes that have been committed, are being committed or are about to be committed including information relating to the whereabouts of wanted persons, illegal drugs and stolen property. For this information we offer cash rewards to anonymous callers when their information assists the police in recovering stolen property, seizing illegal drugs or when an arrest is made. Crimes range from minor thefts to murders. The program develops, promotes and encourages a high standard of cooperation between the community, the news media and the police to combat crime in our communities and schools and contributes to the security of persons and property by assisting law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prevention of crime.

1. THE COMMUNITY
   Citizens of all communities in the Counties of Simcoe, Dufferin and the District Municipality of Muskoka are affected by their participation in the prevention of and subsequent reduction of crime and removal of illicit drugs from their communities and schools by taking an active role in reporting crimes anonymously.

   Crime Stoppers provides a tool for law abiding citizens to provide information on a crime that has been committed which assists investigative agencies solve crimes and deter the use of illegal drugs in our communities and schools.

   Our clients are members of our communities regardless of age, gender and financial status. Our program area=s population is also unique in that our summer residents increase by 50,000 compared to our normal population of 559,894. We currently have thirty-two (32) secondary schools in our program area with more than 28,407 students benefiting from our program. Crime Stoppers provides an avenue for our youth to give valuable information about a crime while remaining anonymous.

   The community is the backbone of the program because it is through citizens of the communities that we obtain the information needed to help solve crime.

2. THE POLICE
   Crime Stoppers works in partnership with the Police and other investigative agencies in the County of Simcoe, Dufferin and the District Municipality of Muskoka. These include nine (9) Ontario Provincial Police Detachments and five (5) Municipal Police Services. Crime Stoppers provides these investigative agencies with anonymous information received for investigation in an effort to reduce or prevent crimes in our communities and schools.

3. THE MEDIA
   Crime Stoppers works in partnership with the Media in the County of Simcoe, Dufferin and the District Municipality of Muskoka. These include two (2) television stations, five (5) community cable stations and thirty-seven (37) newspaper contacts. The media promotes the program through articles about the program, public service announcements, publishing or broadcasting a "Crime of the Week". The media, has the task of working with the police co-ordinator to enlighten the citizens of the community where the police need their assistance. The more the media promotes the Crime Stoppers program, the more calls may be received from the community on crimes and the more cases may be solved by the police .

The common goal and objectives of all involved is the reduction, prevention and solving crimes in our communities and schools.

CRIME STOPPERS OF SIMCOE-DUFFERIN-MUSKOKA IS A MEMBER OF: