What is CrimeStoppers?

Offering anonymity and cash rewards, CrimeStoppers solicits information through the media on all felony crimes in the community. To overcome the citizens' fear of involvement or reprisal, CrimeStoppers assures all callers they will remain anonymous. In addition, the program pays cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of felony offenders.

How Does the Program Work?

The CrimeStoppers program is uniquely funded by private donations, United Way and in some cases from court-ordered probation fees from those convicted of crimes. Few or no tax dollar are involved. Each program is established as a non-profit organization and receives a state charter from the Secretary of State and tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. A Board Of Directors, composed of private citizens, establishes a "hotline," operational policy, the amount and method of the reward systems (some restrictions may apply) and provides for the raising of funds. The Bay City Police Department provides CrimeStoppers with officer(s) who serve as coordinators of the program. That person coordinates with Matagorda County Sheriff's Departments, Palacios and Bay City Police Departments, records all criminal information received by telephone, and forwards it to the respective law enforcement agency for investigation. Each caller is issued a code number to ensure anonymity; and should be information lead to arrest and/or indictment, the police coordinator forwards this information to the Board of Directors on a monthly basis for the bash rewared amount to be determined.

How Well Does CrimeStoppers Work?

Since the inception in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1976, CrimeStoppers programs have spread throughout the United States and the world. They have assisted in solving tough crimes of sexual assault, murder, burglary, drug trafficking, and other major offenses. The number of previously unsolved felonies solved by CrimeStoppers programs has surpassed 400,000. In the past 16 years of its operation, approximately $2.1 billion in stolen property and illegal narcotics have been recovered.

CrimeStoppers Works: What It Has Done in Matagorda County

Over the past twelve years, CrimeStoppers information has been responsible for clearing over 343 crimes and the arrest of over 360 suspects. During that same period of time, CrimeStoppers has been responsible for the recovery of over $433,052 in stolen property and seizures of over $490,923 in illegal narcotics, while paying out over $27,765 in rewards to people who provided information without giving their names. CrimeStoppers has provided a solution to many crimes that would have gone unsolved.

Crime Doesn't Pay, But CrimeStoppers Does.

Matagorda County CrimeStoppers hot lines are in service 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. The phones are answered by a professional answering service in Austin, Texas specifically trained for this effort and the information is immediately relayed by fax machine to the CRIME STOPPERS coordinators in Bay City. They, in turn, pass it on to the proper law enforcement department for investigation. This method assures the caller that they will remain anonymous and the information will reach the proper authorities in a timely manner.

If you have information concerning criminal activity, your call will be appreciated. When citizens, law enforcement, and the media team up, it can and will have a positive impact on crime in our counties, cities, and neighborhoods.

Campus CrimeStoppers

The fastest growing program in Texas is the School Campus CrimeStoppers Program. The Bay City I.S.D. has such a program that has met with great success.

Matagorda County CrimeStoppers P.O. Box 1978 Bay City, Texas 77404-1978 Phone 979-245-8712 Meets First Tuesday of the Month at the Bay City Police Station Chairman - Patsy Anderson Vice-Chairperson - Mary Lou Milees Secretary - Tricia Jenkins Treasurer - Gail Bass Police Department Liason - Mark DeLeon Police Department Liason - Bobby Rodriguez Sheriff's Department Liason - Bruce Page Crime Stoppers Logo designed by Vicki Maden of Bay City