Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
“While the work we do does involve the darker tones of crime and public safety, Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington is an excellent example of the best of what a community can offer,” said program coordinator Sarah Bowers-Peter.
“An organized body that has issued a call to action to the public and appeals to their humanity and their desire to make their world – be it their school, work or neighbourhood – better.”
On Jan. 12 Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington held its annual flag raising for Crime Stoppers Awareness Month in January at Guelph City Hall and also kicked off its 30th anniversary celebrations.
Since its inception in 1988, the organization has received 19,489 tips through 1-800-222-TIPS and at csgw.tips, said Bowers-Peter.
She added, “2,250 would be unsolved without this information and 4,247 charges would never have been laid.”
Directors have approved $164,770 in payments to tip providers, she noted, which has led to more than $37 million recovered in illegal drugs and personal property.
Wellington County OPP staff sergeant Bruce Aitken explained Crime Stoppers had a direct influence on a case last year.
“This past summer we went through a number of suspicious fires in the county and the assistance provided through the Crime Stoppers program was evident for us there as well,” Aitken said.
“Congrats and I look forward to many more years working with the program.”
Guelph and Guelph-Eramosa Fire Chief John Osborne said it’s important to inform the public that if they see something questionable in their community they should call Crime Stoppers.
“There’s a financial part to it but there’s a responsibility … to all of us to act on something when we see something out of the norm,” he said.
Crime Stoppers is changing its focus as crime changes.
“I really want to congratulate Crime Stoppers in terms of what you have done with the program in the last number of years as you look at new issues, and I look at the issue of human trafficking and how you look at the environment and the emerging issues,” said Guelph Police Service Chief Jeff DeRuyter.
“There are many citizens that want to be involved and anonymity is something that is important to many people and we appreciate how that can work with … (what) we traditionally do.”
Thirty years ago the focus was property crime and fires, said Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie.
“This is saving lives now,” he said. “We’re in a different game now.”
As for the next 30 years, Bowers-Peter said it’s up to the community.
“Society is ever changing,” she said. “Who would have thought even 10 years ago that we’d be talking about human trafficking at the local level?”
To learn more about Crime Stoppers visit csgw.tips.
