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Crime Stoppers program at Kiwanis P.M.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Police Chief Mike Tupper and Chairman of the Crime Stoppers Board Todd Steinkamp were welcomed to Kiwanis P.M. by President Kenny Lamb. Tupper updated the club on the great impact Crime Stoppers has made nationwide in bringing criminals to justice.

Kiwanis P.M. held its regular meeting at O’Hungry’s on March 22. President Kenny Lamb called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. He introduced guests Al Hoop, Chief Mike Tupper and Todd Steinkamp. We welcomed home our long absent member Denny Graubenbauer.

The Crime Stoppers program has been in the community for nearly two years. Chief Tupper has been amazed and gratified by the support that residents have shown. Crime Stoppers is a nationwide program started in 1975 in New Mexico where the media and citizens got behind the local police department to solve a homicide. There are currently 350 programs in the U.S. In the years since, Crime Stoppers, have made 600,000 arrests, recovered $4 billion in stolen property and drugs, and given $100 million in rewards nationwide.

Tupper and Steinkamp, chairman of the Crime Stoppers Board, made it clear that when a tip is given, because of the advanced software used, no name is connected with crime tips. Since September 2015 there have been 235 tips leading to several arrests. Rewards are made available anonymously with specific instructions to the tipper, who is identified by an ID number, as to where to pick up their reward.

Tupper and Steinkamp informed us of a second option to help with deterring crime that the Crime Stopper Board is readying for presentation to the community. This would be a camera system, not for catching speeders but to aid in solving crimes. These high definition cameras make reading license plates, vehicle make and model, and individuals more identifiable. Recently in Dubuque a homicide was solved with just such a system. The Police Department will only be as good as the citizens it serves, we are all the eyes and ears of a safe community.

The next meeting on March 29 at O’Hungry’s will feature Marshalltown Little League and the club will be presenting a check to help with ongoing expenses.

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