6/21/2010
Getting to Know... a Crime Stoppers officer
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| Kirk Dougal/Times Bulletin |
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| Kirk Dougal/Times Bulletin |
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BY KIRK DOUGAL
Times Bulletin Editor
kdougal@timesbulletin.com
Everyone grew up hearing the phrase, "No one likes a tattletale."
Crime Stoppers does.
The nationwide movement of citizens trying to help law enforcement agencies solve crimes began in 1976 in Albuquerque when a University of New Mexico student was murdered while working at night at a gas station. With no leads in the case after a few weeks, the detective in charge went to a local television station and asked if they could recreate the crime for their newscast in the hopes that someone would come forward with information about the killers. From that one case, Crime Stoppers grew to the point nearly every city across the country has a program and at least one officer assigned to it. In Van Wert County that officer is the Sheriff Department's Dennis Wagonrod.
A Crime Stoppers program began in Van Wert in June of 1987 and Van Wert City Police Officer Michael Stanley was the first law enforcement personnel in charge. After Stanley's retirement and other changes, Wagonrod began directing the program in January of 2003. He answers to a Board of Directors of 15 area resident volunteers.
How Crime Stoppers works in Van Wert is easy to understand. Wagonrod releases to the media a "Crime of the Week," although it may not happen on a weekly basis because of Van Wert's relatively low crime rate. On the release is a telephone number to call if the reader knows anything about the crime. Since all tips remain anonymous, as soon as the caller is connected, they are given a tip number that is unique to them. At no time is a name asked for by Wagonrod and the only way the tipster is referred to is by the number.
If a tip leads to an arrest and conviction, then Wagonrod recommends to the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors an amount to be paid up to $1,000 for the help. Various factors go into the amount including the severity of the crime.
But even when an amount is awarded, Wagonrod never meets the tipster. Two members of the board of directors take the money to the person at a meeting spot. The tipster only needs to tell them the tip number and they are paid and leave. Wagonrod says it is that anonymity that has made Crime Stoppers a success.
"I don't want to know who the tipster is," said Wagonrod. "We don't have caller ID (on the Crime Stoppers telephone line). We never ask for a name. We never ask for any personal information."
The crimes that Wagonrod chooses for the program could be either a case that has been investigated for a while and uncovered no leads or it could be a high profile crime that law enforcement wants as much information as quickly as possible. The case can originate with the Van Wert County Sheriff's Department, Van Wert City Police or the Delphos City Police.
By all areas of judgment, the program in Van Wert has been a success. Wagonrod said the program usually has 40-45 crimes in the program per year, although last year was abnormally low with only 27. In that time frame, Van Wert Crime Stoppers received ten successful tips over seven cases which is a very good percentage. Tips received for Van Wert cases include everything from vandalism to violent crimes. Wagonrod also pointed out that since its inception, the number and quality of tips have grown considerably as people have become familiar with the program.
Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization that is funded by private contributions and in the last three years has started receiving grant dollars from the state of Ohio. They are given $1 for every case that is prosecuted in Van Wert County courts.
For Wagonrod, Crime Stoppers is considered just a part of his other responsibilities as an Administrative Deputy and the Court Officer.
"Crime Stoppers would like to thank Sheriff Owen for allowing me the time to participate in the program so we have a good, viable program in the county," he said. The value of the program to the area law enforcement agencies has also been noted by other officers and Wagonrod said he receives great cooperation from them. "It's been very well received by all our agencies," he said.
Wagonrod said anyone with information about cases can remain anonymous by calling 419-238-STOP (7867). The phone is not manned after normal business hours but callers can always leave the tip - without any identification - which will allow officers to begin investigating immediately. The tip will still be issued a tip number and the tipster can call back later to receive the number.
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