Lenawee Co Crime Stoppers to close without funds - KCTV5

A local Crime Stoppers organization may be coming to an end.

Leaders in Lenawee County say if they don't raise enough money by this summer, they may have to get rid of the program.

"One thing is certain: Criminals are going to keep on committing crime, and we need to do everything we can to protect the citizens," said William Wise, chairman of the Lenawee County Crime Stoppers.

Crime Stoppers is a major tool the local law enforcement agencies use to keep citizens safe. Now the program is at risk due to funding problems.

"Currently in our budget, we're down to about $900, and we have a $1,800 fee that's going to be coming up in July," explained Dale Smith, vice president of Crime Stoppers.

A lot of that money covers rewards and a special computer program that allows tipsters to stay completely anonymous when they submit information about a crime or suspect.

"There's always somebody in the community that knows or has seen something that's happened," Wise said.

Officials say the guaranteed protection that Crime Stoppers provides has more people coming forward with tips that get dangerous people off the street. That may not happen as often if the program ends.

"It will impact the ability to arrest criminals, get the information to the respective police officers that need the information to go out there and investigate crimes that are being committed," Smith said. "Unfortunately, we feel that it will lead to a lot of unsolved crimes."

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