A local crime fighting program has recently experienced great success with new law enforcement leadership in Union County.

Crime Stoppers is a nationwide nonprofit organization and Union County has had its own local chapter since 2000.

Crime Stoppers allows citizens to anonymously provide information to police about criminal activity without being directly involved in the investigation process. Anyone who has a tip for Crime Stoppers can call 427-0800 — a line that goes to a fusion center at the South Carolina Law Enforcement Department headquarters in Columbia — and relay the information.

A tip sheet is then emailed to Union County Sheriff David Taylor, Chief Deputy Perry Haney and Union County Sheriff’s Office dispatch.

Tips received after hours are automatically faxed to dispatch in case they relate to crime in progress. Tips often include information about wanted persons, stolen property, warrants, current ongoing crime, drug activity, deadbeat parents, traffic violations, burglary and fraudulent checks.

Once an arrest is made based on a tip received, the person who provided the information receives a reward, ranging from $50-$1,000.

Reward amounts are determined by a point system depending on the crime and voted on by the Union County Crime Stoppers Board of Directors at monthly meetings. Crime Stoppers board meetings usually consist of 20 people, including regular members and directors.

After the amount is determined, checks are written to a Crime Stoppers tip number, which callers receive when they give information.

Callers endorse the checks by writing their tip numbers on the back, keeping the entire process completely anonymous. In the case of duplicate tips — two or more people calling in with the same information leading to an arrest — the reward is given to the first person who called in.

“Union County Crime Stoppers is a highly effective program,” Haney said.

The chief deputy — who has 36 years of experience in law enforcement — is a member of the Crime Stoppers board which is made up of law enforcement and local citizens.

“We really have had a lot of success with it,” he said. “It helps make a lot of cases and a lot of arrests.”

Crime Stoppers received 170 tips and 41 arrests were made as a result of those tips through June for just this year alone. Out of the 41 arrests, 32 were fugitives from justice. Two of the arrests made during “Summer Slam 2” — a sting operation conducted by local law enforcement in an effort to dismantle the drug trade in Union County — were the result of tips received through Crime Stoppers.

“Since Sheriff Taylor came into office in January 2009, reward checks paid out equal to $4,627,” said Union County Crime Stoppers Treasurer Michelle Shugart.

Shugart pointed out Union County Crime Stoppers did not pay out that much during its entire existence before Taylor was elected.

“We also work with other agencies like the Jonesville Police Department and the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services,” Haney said. “Also, the city Public Safety Department because we often get tips on their warrants. The sheriff supports all local law enforcement.”

To contact Crime Stoppers, call 427-0800 or 1-888-CRIME-SC.

According to Haney, citizens will soon have the capability of submitting information online and by text message.

The Web site for the local Crime Stoppers chapter is www.unionsccrime Stoppers.com. Names and pictures of wanted persons can be viewed at the newly updated Web site of the Union County Sheriff’s Office — www.unionscsheriff.com.

By the numbers:

170

Number of tips received by Union County Crime Stoppers this year through June.

41

Number of arrests made this year through June as a result of tips called in to Union County Crime Stoppers.

32

Number of those arrests who were fugitives from justice.

2

Number of arrests through Summer Slam 2 as a result of tips called in to Union County Crime Stoppers.

$4,627

The amount of reward checks paid out for tips called in to Union County Crime Stoppers since Sheriff David Taylor came into office in January 2009.

427-0800

The phone number to reach Union County Crime Stoppers if you have information about a crime.