Marshall County’s Crime Stoppers is “off and running.”

That was the succinct comment from Marshalltown Police Chief Mike Tupper who noted the the program is already yielding some results.

“We received our first legitimate tip,” Tupper said Thursday. “Next we will determine if it is credible. I am pleased people are paying attention to the hotline at this early stage in the program.”

After several months of work, volunteers and area law enforcement personnel kicked off the program at the Fisher Community Center this past Tuesday.

Crime Stoppers creates a cash incentive for tipsters to report information – and they can do it anonymously via an online form, text message or telephone call.

Tipsters can submit data pertaining to a potential suspect’s name, address, race, gender, height, weight, age, hair color, scars and marks, tattoos, clothing or animal ownership.

That information is sent to a third-party server before being rerouted to law enforcement, said MPD Capt. Christopher Jones.

“I have access and another police captain in our office has access and a series of other investigators that receive tips” he said.

Jones said he forwards promising tips to personnel assigned to the cases to which the tips pertain.

One MCCS volunteer board member was ecstatic about the tip and the fundraising campaign which makes the program work.

“It’s pretty exciting to get the first bona fide tip, and to have far surpassed what I was betting we’d raise in donations,” said Marshalltown Councilman Joel Greer. “Like the 900 people painting the (Center Street) bridge, the more than $40,000 raised for the 13th Street “Dancing with the Stars,” the more than $2 million raised for the Roundhouse, this Crime Stoppers endeavor is another example of what a great community this is!”

Crime Stoppers tips can be submitted by telephone, text message or an Internet website.

The Crime Stoppers phone line is answered at all hours, seven days a week, at 641-753-1234. Calls are answered by Marshall County Communications Center operators.

Text messages can be sent to 247637 (CRIMES).

Tips can be submitted online at www.marshallcountycs.com.

The Crime Stoppers board is raising dollars to maintain its operation and offer cash rewards. Donations can be made to Marshall County Crime Stoppers, 112 W. Church St., Marshalltown, Iowa, 50158.