Tupper

A local anti-crime group donated three public safety cameras to the city as part of a community effort to fight crime.

On Monday night, the Marshalltown City Council voted 6-0 to accept the three cameras on a recommendation from Chief of Police Mike Tupper.

“In 2017, the city collaborated with Marshall County Crime Stoppers (MCCS) on the implementation of a public safety camera program endorsed by the MPD and Marshall County Sheriff’s Office. As part of this project, public safety camera sites were installed at three locations in Marshalltown at a cost of approximately $66,000,” Tupper said.

He told the council before the vote that the city would be responsible for maintenance, repairs and software upgrades should they agree to accept the cameras.

“The MPD recently solved a violent crime because of evidence secured from one of the cameras” Tupper said.

He said there was at least one camera, and possibly two in rural Marshall County.

“And I wish to emphasize these cameras will not issue citations for speeding or other traffic violations, Tupper said.

MCCS was formed in September 2015.

Then Marshalltown resident Clark Wideman and vice president and general manager of KFJB-KXIA, was instrumental in starting Crime Stoppers after hearing a report from Tupper.

He took action and assembled a team of volunteer board members to get the job done.

Wideman served as chairman of the board before retiring from KFJB-KXIA and moving to Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

“The effort is one of the most successful fund-raisers I have seen since we moved to Marshalltown in 1986,” committee member Joel Greer said not long after the group was formed.

“It was a good idea immediately embraced by the community. The three main media outlets started the ball rolling, the police department and sheriff’s office joined forces, and it took little time to assemble a good board of directors, get 501(c)(3) exempt status, and raise enough money to provide good rewards. The tips have already resulted in arrests, so it is working!”

Committee members are Greer, Mark Osmundson, Mike Schlesinger, Mike Miller, Carol Hibbs, Todd Steinkamp, Ellen Bergman, Miguel Gutierrez and Larry Raymon.

Crime Stoppers is based on the principle that someone other than the criminal has information that can help solve a crime.

From its inauguration Sept. 1, 2015, to the first tip logged two days later, the Marshall County Crime Stoppers program has been a proven crime-fighter.

The results, according to Marshall County law enforcement officials, are measured in the number of tips made along with arrests and convictions.

Crime Stoppers is a national organization offering cash rewards for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

The crime fighting initiative creates a cash incentive for tipsters to report information – and they can do it anonymously via an online form.

Tips can be submitted online at www.marshallcountycs.com

Donations can be made to Marshall County Crime Stoppers, 112 W. Church St., Marshalltown.

In other action, Greer said Third Ward Councilor Mike Gowdy was absent due to a death of his sister.

“Mike is a strong family man, and the death of his sister is a blow,” Greer said.

A moment of silence was held in her memory.

The next regular meeting of the city council is 5:30 p.m. Sept. 23 in council chambers.

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Contact Mike Donahey at

641-753-6611 or

mdonahey@timesrepublican.com