About Crime Stoppers of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois
What is Crime Stoppers?
Decatur and Macon County Crime Stoppers is a community program that involves the public, media, Macon County Sheriff’s Department and the Decatur Police Department in the fight against crime! It provides a unique way for information to be passed from citizens to the police without having to give your name, address, or telephone number.
Crime Stoppers is a non-for-profit organization consisting of a volunteer board and Police Coordinators. The Crime Stoppers program has a board of members made up of concerned citizens who are responsible for establishing policy, raising funds, and paying rewards. The board meets monthly to vote on rewards to be paid and to discuss any issues concerning the operation of Crime Stoppers.
How Does Crime Stoppers Work?
Decatur & Macon County Crime Stoppers exists in cooperation with local law enforcement in providing rewards for information leading to the arrest of an individual on a felony charge. If you have any information about a crime or you know the location of a wanted fugitive contact Crime Stoppers. No matter how you decide to submit your information (via text message, web tip or phone call ) Crime Stoppers is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by members of the Decatur Police Department. At the time you submit the information you will be immediately issued a code number known ONLY to you. DO NOT let anyone know what your code number is! Next, law enforcement will investigate the information that you provided.
If your information results in the arrest of an offender, you become eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,500.
Why Do We Need Crime Stoppers in our Community?
Crime Stoppers is based on the principal that someone other than the criminal has information that can solve a crime and was created to combat the three major problems faced by law enforcement in generating that information:
- Fear of retaliation
- An attitude of apathy
- Reluctance to get involved
Crime Stoppers resolves these problems by:
- Offering ANONYMITY to people who provide information about crimes.
- Paying REWARDS when the information supplied leads to arrest.
Crime Stoppers serves many purposes within the community. Here are just a few:
- To promote community welfare & inform/educate the public to further protect them from criminal activity.
- To motivate the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
- To lessen the burden of law enforcement agencies in the apprehension of criminals.
- To help develop a community against crime.
Crime Stoppers is a 501(c)3 organization, supported by fundraisers and donated contributions from individuals and corporations. Contributions are TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Crime Stoppers is not supported by your tax dollars and we receive no government grants.
How Can I Become a Board Member of Decatur Crime Stoppers?
Board Member Job Description:
- Serve on the Board of Directors for a three year term
- Commit to approximately 2-3 hours monthly to a Crimestopper Program.
The Board meetings are held the last Wednesday of each month from 4-5PM at the Police building located at Lincoln Park Dr., Decatur, IL 62522. - Assist in making pay-outs of awards 1-2 times yearly.
- Serve as an active fundraiser for the Crimestoppers program.
- Serve on at least one working committee.
- Maintain confidentiality of Crimestoppers case information, records and other Crimestopper business.
To become a board member of Decatur Crime Stoppers, please print and fill out this document.
Mail forms to: Teri Hammel, 202 E. North Street, Decatur, IL 62523