CELEBRATING CRIME STOPPERS MONTH 2021
January is Crime Stoppers Month and this year’s theme is “Helping All Communities Stay Safe”. Crime Stoppers provides a safe, anonymous means for anyone to report information to the police without fear of repercussions or the need to go to court.
In April 2020, Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers celebrated it’s 35th anniversary. As one of the oldest programs in Canada, Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers, operates as a non-profit charity, and has been a valued partner of local law enforcement agencies and the media. This long-standing partnership has resulted in over 6,950 arrests, more than $13,000,000 in recovered property and more than $53,000,000 in illegal drugs seized since it’s inception in 1985.
Crime unfortunately affects us all. Crime rates affect our feeling of safety and security within our homes, parks and even workplaces. Crime Stoppers offer rewards for information to help the police and policing agencies solve crimes. Since inception, our Crime Stoppers Board of Directors have authorized over $1,300,000 in reward payouts. In short, the program works.
Being a non-profit charity, Crime Stoppers does not receive any government funding. Unfortunately, 2020 was also a year filled with challenges. Due to the challenges faced be the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to run many of our fundraising events such as our Golf Tournament, Spitfire Games (Chuck a Puck), Bail or Jail, Bingo’s, Shredding/Take Back your drugs events and grocery packing days (at the Zehrs on Lauzon Rd/Tecumseh Rd). Just last month, our program has had to cancel our premier spring event, our Game Dinner that is held at Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens. Our hope is that later this summer we will be able to begin hosting our public fundraising events again.
“We are very grateful for the continuing support from our community,” said Tyler Lamphier, Program Manager. “Our program truly is a community driven program, and we are in greater need of support than ever. The loss of our major events over the past year has affected us greatly. Unfortunately, our fundraising was down roughly $80,000 in 2020. In order to continue to do the work we do; we cannot do this alone; we need the community’s support to help keep the program going and growing. Every dollar that is paid out in rewards must be fundraised.”
Throughout 2020, the program to measures to cut cost and appeal to the community in different ways. “Without the support of our local businesses and community members, we could not thrive as the successful program we are today,” stated Lamphier. “We are kindly requesting your consideration of a donation to the program to assist us in continuing to offer these services.
The new year also sees new changes at Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers. Last week, the program welcomed new Police Coordinator Sarah Werstein from Essex County OPP.
Officer Werstein brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the program and is excited to jump in and begin working with the community.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the generous sponsors, the strong support of our police agencies, the media for spreading our message, the community donations that have helped us throughout the past year,” says Don Cyr, President of the board. “Now, more than ever, Crime Stoppers needs the support of the community to move forward, we are facing challenges like never before. Crime affects us all, but together we can offer a safe way to report things that would otherwise go left unsaid. We are very proud to be able to work in such a strong and heartfelt community.”
