Three decades of local crime fighting was celebrated at a 30th anniversary party here for Guelph-Wellington Crime Stoppers on Aug. 3.
“We have been celebrating all year long, but it’s really culminating today with the celebration of 30 years,” said program co-ordinator Sarah Bowers-Peter at the party in Murphy Park following a downtown flag-raising ceremony.
Bowers-Peter introduced the Crime Stoppers civilian board of directors, noting, “We have a very deep team on the Guelph-Wellington Crime Stoppers organization.”
Board member Marlene Coughlin, tasked with heading up the 30th anniversary celebration effort, said it was a job she was pleased to take on.
“I truly do believe in the program,” said Coughlin.
“I know its value and I know the program works, but I also know it only works with a strong partnership between us, Crime Stoppers, the police, in our case the OPP and the Guelph Police Service, the media and most importantly … the community … It’s that partnership and the strength of that partnership that allows this program to be effective.”
Wellington County Warden Dennis Lever said, “The idea of a program that would offer the anonymous ability to report a crime has been a tremendous success.
“It’s a fantastic program. It’s also a program that [the county] has been very pleased to support.”
Lever noted the county provides office space, the proceeds from the annual police auction of recovered property and “I hope a lot of moral support as well.”
“It’s a fantastic community-based organization that’s had incredible success throughout the county … and the City of Guelph as well,” Lever stated.
Wellington OPP Staff Sergeant Bruce Aitken said, “Thirty years for the program is outstanding. We can’t say enough about how important the Crime Stoppers program has been for us in the policing world. It’s been an invaluable and integral part of solving many crimes, recovering lots of stolen property and taking many drugs off the street.”
John Svenson introduced the founders of the local program presented them with recognition certificates.
“There’s a lot of people that play a role in making the program work but somewhere it had to get started,” said Svenson.
He thanked the charter members, media partners and local police services boards for “all their support and collaboration.”
