Published: June 26, 2008 12:35 am            

Local Crime Stoppers attend conference in OKC

Larry Brummal and Donald Marquardt, members of Garfield County Crime Stoppers Association, attended the Oklahoma Crime Stoppers Conference June 21 in Oklahoma City.

The conference brought together Crime Stoppers organizations from throughout the state to help organize a state-level Crime Stoppers organization. Attendees at the conference voted to establish Oklahoma Crime Stoppers Association (okcrime stoppers.com) with John Lamb, of Bartlesville, as state chairman.

Speakers at the conference were Elaine Cloyd, president of Crime Stoppers USA; John Wetsel, president of Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association; and Charles Phillips, Oklahoma City Police Department.

“The primary goal of Oklahoma Crime Stoppers Association Inc. is to substantially reduce criminal activity in Oklahoma by establishing local Crime Stoppers programs and providing assistance to existing programs across the state,” Marquardt said.

Oklahoma Crime Stoppers Association will follow the rules of Crime Stoppers USA, an organization which represents Crime Stoppers throughout the continental United States and is an affiliate member of Crime Stoppers International.

“There are 26 known Crime Stoppers organizations across Oklahoma, and there may be other local crime stoppers organizations that we do not know about,” Marquardt said.

He was elected northwest regional director of Oklahoma Crime Stoppers Association. Marquardt will work to organize new Crime Stoppers groups throughout the northwest region. Other regional directors will represent northeast Oklahoma, southwest Oklahoma, southeast Oklahoma and central Oklahoma.

“Crime Stoppers had its start in Albuquerque (N.M.) on Sept. 8, 1976, and was the concept for ‘America’s Most Wanted’ TV show,” Marquardt said. “The Garfield County Crime Stoppers program was formed on April 1, 1991, by Kenneth P. Simpson.”

Crime Stoppers combines the efforts of the local community, law enforcement and the media to solve crimes.

“Crime Stoppers is probably the most effective crime-stopping tool in use today by law enforcement,” Marquardt said. “The program offers rewards up to $1,000 to individuals who provide tips that assist in solving crimes.”

People who want to report a crime can call Crime Stoppers at 233-6233 to report tips. Each caller is given a code number, which is used to identify the caller in subsequent transactions. Crime Stoppers guarantees anonymity to people providing tips. If the caller’s information results in an arrest and filing of criminal charges against a suspect, the caller is eligible for a cash reward. Conference attendees received information about moving their programs into today’s technology by allowing people to provide tips anonymously through text messaging and e-mails.

Garfield County Crime Stoppers meets once a month. Anyone interested in serving on the Garfield County Crime Stoppers Board of Directors should call 233-6233.