The Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers’ annual general meeting took place at the Moose Jaw Police Department Feb. 6, where the last year of services provided by the anonymous tip line were reviewed.
Due to an absence by two of the organization’s members, the meeting did not meet the quorum requirements and so, in its limited capacity, spending and other measures could be reviewed but not approved or passed at the meeting.
After an introduction and the acceptance of the agenda by the chairman, Lyle Johnson, the organization’s treasurer discussed the financial report.
It was noted that the organization currently has $7,855.66 in chequing with investment accounts totalling $21,183.45.
Johnson said the investment account contains money donated for the specific purpose of covering an unresolved crime that happened over 20 years ago. In the hit-and-run incident, one of the members of the Royal Canadian Legion in Moose Jaw, Nola Belisle, was struck by a vehicle while walking along the Trans-Canada Highway in a fundraising effort.
The organization’s 2023 donations came from SaskPower, SaskTel, ACT/UCT (Chamber of Commerce), The Kinsmen Club of Moose Jaw, the Lions Club, the RM of Moose Jaw, and the Jim Connolly family.
Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers then paid out $300 during the 2023 year.
Jeremy Anderson, the liaison for the Moose Jaw Police Service and the Moose Jaw Crime Stopper’s board then delivered the police report at the meeting.
Anderson reported that Moose Jaw Crimestoppers received 156 tips and 228 tip follow-ups in 2023.
“What that means is when people report a tip online, I’m actually able to correspond in real time with them back and forth.” He said the identity of the individuals remains anonymous and the follow-up procedure is like texting back and forth.
From those tips, eight arrests were issued, and seven of the eight resulted from the Warrant Wednesday program. A total of 53 charges were raised in 2023.
In five of the instances leading up to an arrest, rewards were given that totalled $1,250.
From the inception of the Crime Stoppers program around 50 years ago, a total of 4,563 tips were received leading to 511 arrests, 174 charges laid, and $56,856 in approved awards were granted to callers. The total amount of recovered property and seized drugs amounted to $838,233.
“So, it does work well,” Anderson said. “It’s a great tool for our agency, and it’s a great tool just to have out in the public.”
Anderson noted that many people remain hesitant to come forward as an official witness due to living in the life or because they’re a friend or relation to the suspect, but the anonymous tip service does get some hits.
“They are willing to come forward and at least provide us that information so we can investigate it further,” he said.
Following this, Johnson acknowledged the sponsorship agreements in the chairperson’s report.
“Those organizations sponsor and support the program,” he said. “We want to thank them for being good actor community members and making our community a better and safer place by their involvement and contributions.”
Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization funded entirely by tax deductible contributions from the community. The program is described as a community program run by concerned citizens and offers a channel for anyone to submit anonymous tips that may help contribute to a crime being solved.
If you have a crime to report and wish to make an anonymous tip, Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers can be reached toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers also has an anonymous online reporting option available at SaskCrimeStoppers.com.
