History

http://http://www.waterburycrimestoppers.org/page3.htmlWCS HAS A HISTORY OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Since our inception in 1983, Waterbury Crime Stoppers has donated thousands of dollars and our Board Members have committed countless hours of volunteer work not only to the Board but through other organizations as well. It is our sincere belief that fighting crime and bettering the community goes hand-in-hand. That is why in addition to our fundraising events, the Annual Ziti Dinner and the Motorcycle Ride, we also sponsor many other activities. We are proud sponsors of Earth Day, Community Shred Day, a Poster Contest in the Waterbury Elementary Schools, and we award thousands of dollars in scholarships to qualified high school seniors every year through our Scholarship Program.

As part of our dedication to fighting and preventing crime in Waterbury we have made numerous donations to the Police Department. Through our fundraising efforts we have been able to raise enough money to:

donate an electron microscope to analyze blood samples, hair, fibers, and other minute evidence that are critical to solving crimes.

donate much needed equipment to the gymnasium at the police department to help improve the physical and mental health of the officers.

pay for the rebuilding of the interior of the forensic crime lab including new cabinetry and new countertops.

buy a powerful digital camera to improve the work of the crime scene investigation team.

donate the proceeds of our Motorcycle Runs to assist with the purchase of a macroscope. This is a device used to examine markings on bullets to determine which gun they may have been fired from.

purchased a laptop and printer with Tipsoft software to increase the efficiency of the Crime Stoppers program.

HISTORY OF THE CRIME STOPPERS PROGRAM

The Crime Stoppers program began in Albuquerque, New Mexico in September 1976 and is a partnership of the community, the media and law enforcement designed to combat crime and keep our streets safe.

Today there are some 1,200 Crime Stoppers programs in communities around the world that take tips to assist investigators to solve crimes including homicides, sexual assaults, drug trafficking operations and robberies, just to name a few. Programs have also received information that has prevented school shootings and criminal acts by terrorist organizations.

Crime Stoppers programs are operated as not for profit charities and are managed by a volunteer board of directors who take responsibility fundraising and paying rewards to individuals who anonymously call with information that helps solve crime.

Rewards are paid for tips that lead to the arrest of people charged with felony offences and to date Crime Stoppers statistics show a conviction rate of approximately 95 percent.

On an accumulative basis since 1976 tips to Crime Stoppers have been responsible for the arrests of around 600,000 individuals and led to the seizure of close to $7 billion in stolen property and illicit drugs. (Crime Stoppers International Website)