|
|
 |
Wayne White/Herald-Chronicle
U.S. Marshal Shervonne Gallow talks about crime prevention during
the Osage County Crime Stoppers’ 10-year anniversary celebration
held at Osage City school cafeteria Oct. 23.
Wayne White
Managing Editor
OSAGE CITY—They could be in every home, peeking through the
curtains, watching the neighborhood, telephone at their fingertips,
doing their part to protect society. They aren’t just nosy
neighbors, they are crime stoppers and their duty is one any citizen
can do. There just aren’t enough of them.
“You have people who won’t get involved until it happens
to them,” said U.S. Marshal Shervonne Gallow to those gathered
last week at the Osage County Crime Stoppers anniversary banquet.
“This is all about telling if you see something happen.”
The Crime Stoppers program is just one example of citizens working
with the government to prevent or solve crimes, she said.
“It’s OK to be a snitch,” said Gallow, of Kansas
City, Mo.
Gallow was the keynote speaker at the banquet, which recognized
10 years of the citizen-led crime prevention program in Osage County.
Also speaking was Osage County Crimestoppers charter member Frank
Mersmann and Osage County Sheriff Laurie Dunn.
Mersmann said the program began in the county after a group of citizens
became concerned about ongoing crime. It was modeled after Crime
Stoppers International, whose mission includes developing a cost
effective crime-solving tool for law enforcement, and building communications
between law enforcement and the general public.
“It’s not supported by taxes,” Mersmann said.
“It’s strictly supported by good people, businesses
and organizations.”
By providing a toll-free, anonymous tip hotline, publishing significant
crimes in the local newspaper and enlisting citizens as neighborhood
watchdogs, the program has resulted in successes in the county.
“It has helped,” Dunn said. “People called in;
we’ve recovered property and it’s led to arrests and
meth labs.”
Dunn and the chairman of the Osage County Crime Stoppers board,
Fran Richmond, agree that more citizen involvement could lead to
more crime stopping successes.
“We really haven’t done as much business through that
tip line as we hoped,” Richmond said this week.
But the successes prove the system works. Over the years, rewards
have been paid, with one reward paid this year, Richmond said.
Osage County’s program differs from others, Mersmann said,
because Osage County Crime Stoppers will pay rewards without waiting
for a conviction.
“We want people to help us with locating and arresting criminals,”
Mersmann said. Rewards can be up to $1,000.
Dunn said the sheriff’s office has embraced the program, which
she describes as a proactive crime-fighting tool. The department
provides manpower for the program in the form of Bret Lewis, dispatcher.
Lewis maintains an Osage County Crime Stoppers Web page (linked
from the county’s and sheriff’s office Web sites) and
distributes crime information to all interested persons and The
Osage County Herald-Chronicle. The sheriff’s office dispatch
center also mans a 24-hour-a-day hotline to receive crime tips at
(877) OSCRIME or (877) 672-7463. Sheriff patrol cars sport bumper
stickers with the crime hotline number prominently displayed.
Dunn said crime has changed in the county since Crime Stoppers began
10 years ago. Once plentiful methamphetamine lab sites are less
frequently found.
“We’ve seen a drastic drop in anhydrous ammonia thefts,”
Dunn said. Ammonia is an ingredient used by methamphetamine makers.
While she attributes the reduction in meth labs to changes in the
law that have limited availability of other ingredients, she says
anonymous tips help solve crimes such as ammonia thefts, meth-making
and home burglaries.
Burglaries and thefts constitute a majority of crimes in the county,
Dunn said.
Gallow said thefts continue to rise as the economy worsens.
“Everybody has their hands in the cookie jar,” she said.
“You can’t even put a face on it – there are too
many faces. People are going to do whatever they can to get our
money.”
In addition to being aware of their surroundings, Gallow said citizens
can lessen their chance of being victims by locking cars and homes,
not opening garage doors until pulling into driveways, not letting
strangers into homes, and installing alarm systems.
“[Criminals] will avoid houses with alarms,” Gallow
said.
But neighbors watching their neighborhood is a useful crime prevention
tool, Gallow said, because watchful neighbors reduce the opportunity
for crimes to be committed.
“We as individuals give [criminals] opportunity,” Gallow
said.
“We need to continue to support Crime Stoppers,” Dunn
said, “whether law enforcement, businesses, or citizens calling
in.”
Osage County Crime Stoppers board of directors is made up of nine
citizens who each serve a three-year term. Currently on the board
are Richmond, Mersmann, Ellen Dennison, Scott Rice, Casey Mussatto,
David Carriger, Larry Woodson, Ken Wilk and Larry Thurston. Anyone
who would like to be involved with Crime Stoppers can call the hotline
for more information.
Donations can be sent to Osage County Crime Stoppers, Inc., P.O.
Box 38, Lyndon, KS 66451.
“Thanks go to individuals, organizations and businesses whose
monetary support provides the rewards,” Mersmann said. |
|
|
|
