Law enforcement officials from throughout Middlesex County can expect a bump in crime tips from local residents, thanks to the founding of Crime Stoppers of Middlesex County.
A member program of the national Crime Stoppers agency, the Crime Stoppers of Middlesex County is a nonprofit organization that will offer rewards to the public for information leading to the arrests of suspects for a variety of crimes. Developed by Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan and retired New Brunswick Police Director Anthony Caputo, the organization hopes to entice residents to call a “tips” phone line and provide information on crimes anonymously.
“Police in Middlesex County have long had a strong working relationship with our residents, whose assistance has been invaluable in preventing crime, solving crime and providing information that has led to successful prosecutions,” Kaplan said in a press release. “Crime Stoppers of Middlesex County Inc. offers a financial incentive and guarantees anonymity to those who might otherwise be reluctant to help us.”
Middlesex County Freeholder Mildred Scott, who chairs the county’s Law and Public Safety Committee, said the program will engage residents in a way that can actively help to keep their families and neighborhoods safe.
“Crime Stoppers will raise awareness and will greatly expand our ability to spot crime and stop it,” she added.
The organization is made possible through financial donations from a group of county businesses.
“We also have assembled a dedicated team of volunteers that will help run this organization. This is a great way for the community and law enforcement to work together,” Caputo said.
Corporate members of Crime Stoppers of Middlesex County include Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Johnson & Johnson, the Hyatt Regency, and Greater Media Newspapers. Greater Media publishes 10 weekly newspapers, including four in Middlesex County that have a combined circulation of 101,589.
“We at Greater Media Newspapers are pleased that we have been asked to participate in this very worthwhile program, which will benefit the residents of Middlesex County,” Greater Media Newspapers General Manager and Publisher Ben Cannizzaro said.
“We look forward to promoting this program to our readers,” he added.
The organization will be operated by a 10-member board of directors that will determine how and when rewards will be offered and will establish the dedicated phone line for tips. The board will also determine the amounts of the rewards.
In order to develop the program, Kaplan first sought advice from pre-existing Crime Stoppers organizations. He then began seeking corporate members to finance the program and provide representatives for the board of directors.
“To set up this organization in Middlesex County, we studied how Crime Stoppers works elsewhere in New Jersey, and we have learned that in some cases, people don’t want the reward money, they just want to help keep their communities and families safe,” Kaplan said.
The county’s various police departments have also thrown their support behind the fledgling organization.
“The Middlesex County Association of Chiefs of Police is looking forward to utilizing Crime Stoppers, a nationally recognized program that has assisted law enforcement agencies solve thousands of crimes,’’ said Monroe Township Police Chief John J. Kraivec, current president of the chiefs association.
“The ability to partner with corporate members to offer rewards for information on crimes committed in Middlesex County is paramount. Crime Stoppers is a proven tool used by law enforcement. The Middlesex County Association of Chiefs of Police is committed to serving our communities and looks forward to working with our residents and keeping them safe,’’ Kraivec said.
Since its inception in 1976, Crime Stoppers USA, which offers advice and training to local Crime Stoppers organizations, has been responsible for 539,837 arrests, cleared 865,412 cases and paid a total of $78,827,492 in rewards nationwide.