Homicides and overall gun violence is increasing at an extremely high rate in the city currently. The police department needs the help of everyone to try and deal with this situation. Many people would like to help but do not want to give their name. The crime stoppers organization is a way to get involved and not have to give your name. Crime Stoppers is an international organization with chapters in cities all over the world. It has been around for over 50 years. Over 1.2 million cases have been solved in the United States with 800,000 bad guys in jail. In addition, over $117 million in rewards have been paid out.
In October 2019 Milwaukee formed a chapter of their own. One person involved was Wisconsin State Crime Stoppers President K Scott Abrams. “It’s your civic responsibility to report information about crimes and criminals,” Abrams said. “We offer an opportunity to do it anonymously instead. That is not snitching. That’s helping your community become safe and safer.” Abrams continued “the only reason crime stoppers exist is to provide that anonymity. That is our promise to the community that we will never identity those involved because we don’t know you are.”
The process goes like this. You call 414-224-8477, or download and use P3 Tips App. Your phone number is scrambled when you call and when they answer they have no idea who you are. You give your tip to the person on the line, and they give you a tip number. That is the only information, no name or phone number. You keep this tip number to use when you have to call back in a few weeks. “Milwaukee Crime Stoppers phone number, we do not have caller ID on that. It is just a phone number. A blank phone with a couple of buttons. When we get things on the internet that is all scrubbed. We do not want your name. We just want your information,” said Abrams.
Once the crime is solved the board is notified. Crime Stoppers cannot contact you, so you must call back and give your tip number. When you go for the reward, you are paid cash, and no pictures are taken. They want to keep you anonymous. Since 2019 there have been five homicide arrests and forty more other crimes have been solved. Over $13,000 in cash rewards have been given out over that time. “Sometimes we are the best unknown secret in the community. We want to get that word out to everybody, so they know what it is,” Abrams said.
I know many people do not want the police coming to their homes to give information. Some are afraid which is understandable. This is a safe way to give information plus get a reward in return.