A tip-off just might pay off
Samantha Miller - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 6/28/07 Section: Metro
With the recent launch of the Iowa City area Crime Stoppers, residents now have a more lucrative incentive to channel their inner Good Samaritan - money.
Crime Stoppers, a not-for-profit international organization, pays up to $1,000 for anonymous tips that lead to arrests in felony offenses, and the group touts a 95 percent conviction rate. The Iowa City program joins approximately 1,200 others worldwide.
"It's very much a partnership between the program and the department," Iowa City police Sgt. Troy Kelsay said. "It is to get people to step forward who don't have a personal interest and who might not otherwise get involved."
Kelsay said all the tips offered to Crime Stoppers are routed directly to him. If any of them result in an arrest, Kelsay calls Crime Stoppers to inform the group of the success, after which a subjective dollar amount is attached and a drop-off point decided upon.
Because the process is anonymous, it's the tippers' responsibility to contact Crime Stoppers to determine whether their information was helpful, he said.
"What is difficult from my perspective is I can't go back to the person who provided the tip and ask, 'Hey, about this tip …' " Kelsay said.
He added that those who give anonymous clues will never be put on the stand, and their names will never appear on a police report.
Iowa City's Crime Stoppers has already received numerous tips - though none leading to arrests - since its commencement June 6.
Initial challenges prevented the program's swift launch, said Doug Myrick, a Crime Stoppers board member.
The organization is supported via donations, which can become tax write-offs, the former police officer said. But the program first needed the appropriate paperwork from the IRS - a factor that slowed its takeoff.
But a new sense of urgency emerged after an area woman was assaulted and burglarized June 5 in her Jema Court home.
"With the viciousness of the Jema Court assault, we said, 'We can't wait,' " Myrick said.
Crime Stoppers, a not-for-profit international organization, pays up to $1,000 for anonymous tips that lead to arrests in felony offenses, and the group touts a 95 percent conviction rate. The Iowa City program joins approximately 1,200 others worldwide.
"It's very much a partnership between the program and the department," Iowa City police Sgt. Troy Kelsay said. "It is to get people to step forward who don't have a personal interest and who might not otherwise get involved."
Kelsay said all the tips offered to Crime Stoppers are routed directly to him. If any of them result in an arrest, Kelsay calls Crime Stoppers to inform the group of the success, after which a subjective dollar amount is attached and a drop-off point decided upon.
Because the process is anonymous, it's the tippers' responsibility to contact Crime Stoppers to determine whether their information was helpful, he said.
"What is difficult from my perspective is I can't go back to the person who provided the tip and ask, 'Hey, about this tip …' " Kelsay said.
He added that those who give anonymous clues will never be put on the stand, and their names will never appear on a police report.
Iowa City's Crime Stoppers has already received numerous tips - though none leading to arrests - since its commencement June 6.
Initial challenges prevented the program's swift launch, said Doug Myrick, a Crime Stoppers board member.
The organization is supported via donations, which can become tax write-offs, the former police officer said. But the program first needed the appropriate paperwork from the IRS - a factor that slowed its takeoff.
But a new sense of urgency emerged after an area woman was assaulted and burglarized June 5 in her Jema Court home.
"With the viciousness of the Jema Court assault, we said, 'We can't wait,' " Myrick said.
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thedude
Tom Seemuth
posted 6/28/07 @ 5:37 PM EST
But Myrick said it's good to give some power back to the people.
"It's not just about the top people who are active in community affairs," he said. (Continued…)
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