Historical March 1987 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
After just four months of operation, St. Louis Crimestoppers, a local crime-fighting organization, announced today that a rewards program for citizens who provide information about crimes was responsible for 10 arrests during 1986.
The arrests were made for crimes that included murder, narcotics deals and thefts that recently occurred in the St. Louis metropolitan area. “Through the St. Louis Crimestoppers program, where informants can receive up to $1,000 in rewards and remain anonymous, the St. Louis Police Department received a number of tips that led to the arrests,” says Sgt. Charles Metzner, of the St. Louis Police Department. “Though just in its infancy, the Crimestoppers rewards program has already helped police solve cases where few leads existed and where crimes appeared unsolvable.” Metzner said the non-profit organization paid seven rewards since the Crimestoppers program was started on August 18,1986. “Participation in the St. Louis Crimestoppers group includes the St. Louis Police Department, local media, and a Board of Directors,” says Metzner, who serves as liaison between the Police Department and the Board. “The Crimestoppers Board of Directors includes local citizens interested in helping the police solve crimes that occur in St. Louis.” Among the Board members is Skinker-DeBaliviere resident Neville Vatcha. Of the recent arrests made, four were in conjunction with a murder that occurred on the near south side of the city. “In addition, photographs of fugitives printed in the South Side Journal have resulted in several tips from residents and subsequent arrests for crimes of burglary, theft, and narcotics,” says Metzner.
According to Pete Lowell, chairman of the Crimestoppers Board, any citizen can call the Crimestoppers Hotline, 621-1999, with information about any crime. “A ‘Crime-of-theWeek’ is featured each Monday on KSDK Channel 5’s ‘News at Noon’ program and in the weekly South Side Journal.
The broadcasts and articles focus attention on a specific crime and bring attention to the Crimestoppers program,” says Lowell. “If a person has information about the featured crime, or another crime, he or she can call the Hotline and be eligible to receive rewards.
At all times the caller’s identity remains anonymous.” Lowell says there are two main reasons why the program has been successful. “First, the Crimestoppers program allows citizens to perform a civic duty by reporting to police what they know about a crime while enjoying the protection of anonymity. Second the monetary rewards provide an incentive for citizens to contact the police.” Metzner says the St. Louis Crimestoppers hotline is manned 24 hours a day. “Once we receive a tip or information about a crime, we investigate the lead, make arrests and recommend reward payments to the Crimestoppers Board.” Lowell says the Crimestoppers Board provides organizational support, raises funds, coordinates publicity, and approves and pays rewards. “Having been in operation for only a few months, we are still organizing and planning the development of the program,” says Lowell. “But already public interest has been high and several local businesses have given their financial support to the project.
We have set into motion a program to help police resolve those cases which have come to a dead end.
As the program continues to develop, and as additional contributions are received, we see it becoming a significant force to combat crime in our city.” According to the St. Louis Police Department, 49,113 felony crimes were reported in 1985 in St. Louis.
On a national level, 34.9 million crimes (more than one crime every second of the day) were committed in 1985. “We realize Crimestoppers is not the only answer to solving society’s crime problems,” says Lowell. “However, we feel it is an excellent vehicle for focusing attention on serious crimes and for encouraging civic participation in solving crimes.” St. Louis Crimestoppers is incorporated in the State of Missouri and has filed with the Federal government for tax exempt status as a charitable organization.
It is one of 600 Crimestoppers organizations operating in as many communities in the United States.
Since the first Crimestoppers group was organized in 1976 in Albuquerque, N.M., over 92,000 felonies have been solved and over $562 million recovered in narcotics and stolen property.
The Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council voted to donate $100 toward this fund at its January meeting.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, March 1987.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1987_03.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
