It takes a village to beat crime

Jim Hightower believes we need to be more aware to curb crime, so he's leading by conspicuous example. The Coeur d'Alene business owner featured in Monday's Press is a new board member of the local chapter of Crime Stoppers, a 36-year-old community effort in support of law enforcement. What's a little different is Jim's approach, ironically open in promoting his participation in what is generally an anonymous program.

That program began with a murder in July 1976. Young college student Michael Carmen was killed by two robbers at the well-lit, busy Albuquerque gas station where he worked, just two weeks before his wedding. He shouldn't even have been there; he was covering for a friend who needed the night off. The gunmen already had the money; they blew a hole in his abdomen with a shotgun anyway.

Little did they know that one decision would lead to a new approach and the apprehension of 75,000 criminals, in addition to their own arrests. The Carmen case detective, frustrated after too many weeks without major progress, asked a local TV station to re-enact the crime on the news. He hoped the images might trigger the memory of a desired eyewitness. Perhaps someone saw something, but didn't realize at the time it was part of a crime. The morning following the September newscast, an eyewitness called and the crime was solved.

The New Mexico detective's big idea led to the development of Crime Stoppers. It was designed to combat three major problems faced by law enforcement in generating witness information: Fear of reprisal, apathy, and a reluctance to get involved. Anonymity seemed to be the key.

Crime Stoppers is now a worldwide, community-based, nonprofit program which generates tips on major, unsolved crimes by offering rewards (a few hundred to $2,000 if information leads to arrest). Tipsters remain anonymous - identified by codes, or "secret numbers," rather than names. Reward amounts vary by community and availability of funds donated.

This is a three-way partnership. Community volunteers form a nonprofit corporation to oversee the program and solicit tax-deductible donations. The media (print, broadcast, and Web) publicize wanted lists, "crimes of the week," cold cases, etc. Law enforcement agencies work with both, processing anonymous tips to solve crimes and make arrests. Each Crime Stoppers is locally based, but there is a national coordinating agency called Crime Stoppers USA. Idaho is in Region 14, whose director is based in Tri-Cities, Wash. Crime Stoppers USA in turn is part of Crime Stoppers International.

All because of a senseless killing and one creative detective.

If you witness something you believe is related to a major crime, before calling be prepared to give as much of the following information as possible: the type of crime; when and where it occurred; where items involved and/or the fugitive may be found and when; who was involved, ideally including name, nickname, age, address, height, weight, tattoos/scars, clothing, vehicle description, and known associates. You can reach Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or (208) 667-2111.

Money or not, less crime is a reward in itself.

Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Email sholehjo@hotmail.com