Crime Stoppers began in 1976 in New Mexico with an idea a Police Detective had after reaching a dead end with a case. A re-enactment of the crime was videoed and given to the local media. Within 48 hours of it being aired, two suspects were in custody. It is now worldwide, in 22 (sixty-six) different countries! Luckily, along with the assistance of technology, they no longer have to burn DVDs to give to the media. They now have their own YouTube channel to launch the videos to get the stories out quicker and the culprits off the streets.
Jim Taliaferro is a long time public servant, a 34-year veteran of the Shreveport Police Department and the San Diego Police Department. He took Crime Stoppers over about 9 years ago and has seen some great successes with the program. Crime Stoppers only connection to the local police departments is the officers they hire as coordinators to communicate with the public. These relationships, along with that of the local media and involvement with the local communities is the only way the program can suc- ceed. Public input is crucial and anonymity is a must.
How the process happens: Crime Stoppers is brought in by local law enforcement when they have reached a dead end. Information obtained from the public is then given to the detective working the crime to follow up on. The informant is in no way identifiable as when contact is made with Crime Stoppers, the information is immediately scrubbed if online, no caller ID on the phone system, etc. They want to insure the tipster that they don’t have to worry about retaliation. Each tipster is given a unique tip number and if and arrest is made in the case, the tipster follows specific instructions previ- ously given to claim the reward. The information given is specific as to what drive in lane to go to and verbiage to use in order to collect the money.
All funds awarded are from tax deductible donations from individuals and companies. The average re- ward runs $475-$575 and they always pay $1,000 when a tip leads to an arrest in a homicide case – no questions asked!
Your Caddo Crime Stoppers history started in 1982 and since then, they have received 22,800 calls, 5,071 arrests and recovered $773,000 in property, cleared 4,275 cases and paid out $432,759 in rewards!
For more information, you can find Crime Stoppers at any of these three sites:
Crime Stoppers WorldWide:
- 1,700 Programs operating throughout the world
- Responsible for recovery of over $1 billion worth of stolen property
- 95% conviction rate
- Responsible for solving over half million cases
You can also contact Cpl. Marcus Hines, Public Information Officer
Crime Stoppers Coordinator
Shreveport Police Department
(318) 673-6932 – Office
(318) 540-7755 – Cell