http://lincolncrimestoppers.blogspot.com/
How did Crime Stoppers get started? It is interesting to know that worldwide, the organization has only been in existence 42 years. And, in Lincoln it was put in place in 1980.
It started by a police department in New Mexico. There was a college student shot at a gas station. Witnesses were not coming forward - not cooperating. The police were getting frustrated. Suspecting that it was gang-related people were not likely going to tell their story out of fear.
The idea of offering money for informants was good - but against the rules for the police department.
Someone thought about asking businesses to help - to invest in assisting to keep crime under control. They got a number of donations and one of the local TV stations aired information about the offers. Within 72 hours the case was cleared.
Other agencies in other cities heard about the program - word started to spread - and so did the program. It is now international and many of the cases deal with sex trafficking.
It was a police officer by the name of Seward who brought the idea to Lincoln. He was visiting relatives in Florida and witnesses suspicious activity. They reported it to the local police and were instrumental in breaking up a:"chop shop". Seward was then introduced to the Crime Stoppers program that was in place through that police department.
The concept did not immediately take off in Lincoln but Seward was persistent.
The process:
Crime is committed
Tipster reports through Crime Stoppers
Crime Analysis Unit reviews and scrubs the information
The information is sent to the law enforcement unit that has jurisdiction
The case is assigned to an officer
the officer makes the arrest
The information then goes backward through the steps until the reward is authorized
The maximum reward is $1,000 and minimum is $100 (with some exceptions). There is a general table used for the amounts depending on the type and gravity of the crime.
The Crime Stoppers Board review and approves the rewards monthly. The Board is made up of citizens - not law enforcement. There are representatives of law enforcement available to advise and support the Board as needed.
In Lincoln / Lancaster County, there are about 225 cases cleared, with 330 people arrested per year tied back to Crime Stoppers.
Crime Stoppers still has a difficult time being recognized and raising funds. Some of the regular donations have dropped off recently.
They would like to do more with / at the schools to help reduce crimes by and against youth.