Chief Deputy Perry Haney with the Union County Sheriff’s Office said the Crime Stoppers Board met Wednesday and a record number of rewards were paid out. Haney said he was unsure of how much money has been distributed, but the smallest reward paid is $50.
“It has been so successful,” Haney said. “We’ve had more tips, more calls and the highest number of rewards paid out.”
Haney said Sheriff David Taylor, who took office in January, has offered support for Crime Stoppers, including participating in a child support enforcement program with the Clerk of Court’s office. The program publicizes pictures of child support duckers along with the Crime Stoppers number and an offer to pay for information leading to an arrest. Pictures of Child Support duckers have been posted in The Union Daily Times, in Runners magazine, on Channel 14 and information on them has been broadcast on WBCU by Clerk of Court Brad Morris.
Lt. David Kitchens, child support enforcement officer, created a poster board of child support duckers that is on display in the hallway outside the sheriff’s office and has posted pictures in other locations around town.
Officials are happy about the increased support of the Crime Stoppers program, but at the same time, there is some confusion among callers. Some think if they call the sheriff’s office or the clerk of court’s office with a tip, they are eligible for an award. All those who want a reward for their information must make their call to Crime Stoppers.
“If they have a tip, they need to call the Crime Stoppers number and they don’t have to give their name, address, or any other personal information,” Haney said.
Information is welcome on any case, from an unsolved murder to a larceny or the location of a person on whom law enforcement has a warrant, Haney said.
The person who called Crime Stoppers with a tip is assigned a number. Tips are passed along to law enforcement. At the sheriff’s office, Haney and Lt. Kenneth Riddle are the Crime Stoppers contacts.
The Crime Stoppers Board meets once a month. Board members are told about tips that were received that actually were valuable information leading to an arrest, property recovered, etc.
A schedule is used to determine the amount of a person’s reward. Factors such as personal risk, property recovered, arrests made, number of crimes solved, etc., are figured.
“There is a point system determining the amount of the reward,” Haney said. “The minimum is $50. The maximum is $1,000 depending on the points.”
Sometimes multiple calls are received with more than one person giving the same information. Haney said in that case, the first person who called with the correct information gets the reward.”
Those who have called in tips are asked to check with Haney or Riddle to see if they received a reward.
A check will be made payable to the number the person making the tip was issued. It can be claimed at Arthur State Bank’s Plaza Branch on South Duncan By-Pass The tip giver will endorse the check with that number.
“Your name never comes up,” Haney said. “We don’t touch, see or write the check at the sheriff’s office.”
(The number for Crime Stoppers is 427-0800.)
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