Public has renewed tool to fight crime

When a criminal case is not solved within a reasonable amount of time, the crime tends to increasingly get difficult to solve. When this occurs, a method is needed to call upon citizens with information to provide help to law enforcement and solve the crime.

This is where the Crime Stoppers program steps in.

The Greater Gonzales County Crime Stoppers Inc. has restarted and is looking for rejuvenated interest from the community to help make it a success.

The program is designed to achieve citizen interest and involvement through the use of anonymity and establishing reward systems that pay for information leading to the arrest or charges filed on persons involved in felonies.

One of the main concerns citizens have in reporting a crime is fear of their identity being revealed. The fear of retaliation can be overwhelming and understandably so. However, the Crime Stoppers assures that anonymity will be key for this program to work.

Citizens who have knowledge of a specific crime are encouraged to come forward to law enforcement with information through the Crime Stoppers program. The program allows any citizen supplying information to remain completely anonymous, if they want. That way, the tipster’s identity will remain protected and any information relayed can be used.

Other than the promise of anonymity, the Crime Stoppers will be also issuing out a reward system to pay for information that leads to an arrest or charges filed. They will work with the citizen to figure out the terms of payment so that the citizen can remain anonymous.

According to the Texas Crime Stoppers website, since its inception as of 2012 there have been 181,976 suspects arrested, 685,185 offenses cleared, $41,498,519 rewards paid, $247,021,742 worth of property recovered and $1,069,139,535 worth of narcotics seized.

The Greater Gonzales County Crime Stoppers are looking for more board members. The next meeting will take place August 13 at the sheriff’s office.

For more information you can contact Dennis Richter at drichter@co.gonzales.tx.us or call the Greater Gonzales County Crime Stoppers Inc. at (830) 263-0760.

For the tip line, you can call (830) 672-TIPS (8477).