Mission Statement
Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers Inc. is a partnership of the public, the police and the media which provides the community with a proactive Program for people to anonymously assist in the solving of crime and contributing to an improved quality of life in our community.
Program Mandate
Crime Stoppers is a non-profit community oriented program involving the co-operation efforts of the police, the community and the Media. It encourages people to call Crime Stoppers with information to solve crimes already committed, those about to occur, and/or the wherabouts of wanted persons, narcotics and stolen property.
Crime Stoppers is based on the simple principle that for every crime committed, someone other than the criminal, has information that would solve the crime.
The Program recognizes the current reluctance of many citizens to become personally involved, and guarantees anonymity to those who provide information. Thus, Crime Stoppers assists citizens in making a worthwhile contribution to stopping crime, without fear of retaliation or involvement in a lengthy legal proceeding. It also reduces apathy by offering a cash reward.
To the police service, the Crime Stoppers program plays a vital role and represents a valuable and sharp-edged investigation tool.
Introductions
When a criminal case is not solved in a reasonable length of time, the leads diminish, and the trail becomes cold. Evidence in the case becomes unattainable and the case becomes more difficult to solve. For these reasons, most police agency files contain unsolved cases. When this occurs, a method is needed that will peak public interest in the case and will also present the citizens needed information that could lead to the solving of the crime.
Citizens from the community may witness all or parts of a crime without being aware of what they have seen. They may unknowingly have information that is the key that will assist the police in solving the crime. In some cases, citizens are hesitant to contact the police in fear of retaliation from the criminal. Also, people from the community may not come forward with information because they are uncertain on who to contact in the police organization and what procedures to follow in supplying their information.
The Crime Stoppers Program provides a method for the community to overcome these obstacles and will allow the citizens to become involved in solving crime.
Through the Crime Stoppers Program, citizens who have knowledge of a specific crime are encouraged, either for civic or monetary reasons, to come forward with their information. This program allows any citizen supplying information to remain completely anonymous, if they so desire. In this manner the citizen is assured that their identity will be protected and that the information provided will be utilized.
To effectively receive information from the citizens of the community, Crime Stoppers programs must receive the support of all law enforcement and media communities.
Crime Stoppers Programs, operating internationally, have a proven track record. Since the initiation of the first Program in Albuquerque, New Mexico in September 1976, the number of Programs has grown by about 516 in the United States, Canada, Africa, Australia, England and the Netherlands.
There are three levels of the Crime Stoppers Programs: local, state or provincial, and international. All three levels are non-profit agencies that receive no Government funding and encourages financial support from the community at large.
Crime Stoppers Programs can be extremely beneficial in combating the ever-present crime problem in the community. It is an effective tool in which the private citizen joins together with law enforcement officials to solve crime. The Program being offered by Crime Stoppers serves as a vehicle that allows private citizens to relay criminal information to the police, and the caller will always remain anonymous.
In-order for this Program to be successful, it will need the cooperation and the dedication of all those involved.
Organization
A civilian Board of Directors, usually comprised of 15 to 25 members, represent various sectors of the community. These volunteer Board Members oversee the general operation of the program and administers the funds received through public contributions. The Board Members may also may also perform some or all of the following duties; set policies which creates and controls the Program; raise funds to pay for rewards; and act as trustees of funds contributed by citizens, businesses and service groups. One Board Member is designated as the Treasurer, and ensures the delivery of reward money to the Tipster.
A police officer is designated as a police co-ordinator for the local Crime Stoppers Program. The police co-ordinator is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Program, and also acts as a liaison between law enforcement agencies, the Board of Directors and local new media. Other law enforcement officers and/or trained civilians may be assigned to assist the co-ordinators with daily operation of the Crime Stoppers Program.
Local Crime Stoppers Program
Presently there are 40 Crime Stoppers Programs in the Province of Ontario, that covers all areas of the province. Each Program is incorporated, owned and run by the citizens of each community.
All local Crime Stoppers are designed to achieve citizen interest and involvement through three methods:
1.Anonymity
2.The establishment of rewards which will pay for information leading to an arrest and indictment of person or persons involved in criminal activity.
3.The selections of unsolved “Crime of the Week” to be featured by re-enactment in nightly television news broadcasts, radio spots and newspaper articles
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