CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Since 1985, Clarksville-Montgomery County Crime Stoppers has served as a resource for local law enforcement to help solve crimes, recover stolen property, catch wanted fugitives and convict criminals.
Crime Stoppers Chairman Amber Key described the nonprofit as a liaison between the community, the Clarksville Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, to offer ways for citizens to provide information about crimes.
“We have three ways that you can do that. You can call our phone number, 931-645-TIPS (8477), you can use our mobile app, which is P3, or you can do it online at our website, clarksvillecrimestoppers.com,” Key said.
Key added that once you submit a tip on a crime, you remain anonymous. Remaining anonymous is one of the most important aspects of the Crime Stoppers program. Tips about criminal activity given to Crime Stoppers is kept completely confidential. A tipster is never asked for their name, just information about the crime.
Key said once they get the tip and it leads to an arrest, the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors, made up of 12 volunteers, votes on approving the tip and can give up to $1,000. “We also offer tips money on cold cases, so if somebody puts in a tip and we resolve one of those crimes, that is up to $5,000,” Key said. The organization is currently featuring 24 cold cases.
The Crime Stoppers program is funded by donations, fundraising, and up to $2 from each guilty city traffic violation. No tax dollars are involved in supporting the organization. The reward money paid out by the program for tips on crimes comes from concerned local citizens and businesses.
Since the organization began almost 38 years ago, Key said, Crime Stoppers has received 8,348 tips on crimes, and payouts on those tips total $128,415. Crime Stoppers also offers information kiosks at various locations in Clarksville that feature important crime-fighting messages, crime alerts and wanted suspects.
Blue Jean Ball & Dinner
Crime Stoppers will soon host its largest annual fundraiser, the Blue Jean Ball & Dinner. Key said it’s one of the ways they are able to have funds secured for cold cases and the felonies that they pay tips on.
The Blue Jean Ball is set for Saturday, Feb. 11, from 5:30-10 p.m. at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center. The event will feature dancing to live music, a live auction, barbecue and a cash bar. Tickets are $75 per person and they must be purchased in advance through Monday, Jan. 30. To purchase tickets, go to the Blue Jean Ball ticket site on Eventbrite.
To learn more about Clarksville-Montgomery County Crime Stoppers, submit a tip on a crime, or make a donation, go to clarksvillecrimectoppers.com. Tips can also be sent in through the P3 Tips mobile app.