CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – January is Crime Stoppers Awareness Month, and Clarksville-Montgomery County Crimes Stoppers is recognizing close to 40 years of supporting law enforcement and the local community.
“Crime Stoppers is a community program and I like to tell folks that it is a way for us to be a liaison between the community and law enforcement,” said Amber Key, chairman of the local board of directors.
Citizens can report information about criminal activity to Crime Stoppers, which forwards the information to the Clarksville Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, or other law enforcement agencies. Citizens can then receive a cash reward while remaining totally anonymous.
Key said it allows people to come forward with information about crime and remain anonymous. “We don’t want to know your name or anything else about you, just the information about a crime so we can pass it along to law enforcement.”
Tips can be made on the website clarksvillecrimestoppers.com or by calling 931-645-TIPS (8477). There are also six kiosks in Montgomery County where information can be submitted.
When an individual contacts Crime Stoppers, they are assigned a code number to identify their information. Cash rewards can range from $100 to $1,000 depending on the severity of the crime, and Key added that if information on one of their cold cases leads to an arrest, the reward rises to $5,000.
Crime Stoppers Awareness Month, Key said, “is a way for all programs to showcase their communities, say our thanks to our law enforcement, our local media, and the community for all the help they give us throughout the year for us to continue with our program,” Key said.
Key highlighted a few of the organization’s accomplishments in 2023. Partnering with the Clarksville Police Department’s Juvenile Engagement Team (JET), an SUV was wrapped with the Crime Stoppers logo and QR Code.
In 2022, there were 454 tips received with 292 followed up on by law enforcement, with two of those tips being approved for a reward. One tipster received $500.
Blue Jean Ball coming up
Crime Stoppers looks to businesses, civic organizations and individuals to spread the word. The nonprofit will be holding their major fundraising event, the Blue Jean Ball, on Friday, Feb. 9, at Events at Tranquility in Adams.
There’s a social hour from 5:30-6:30 p.m., followed by dinner, live music and dancing. For tickets and more information, there is an event tab on the Crime Stoppers website. For the Eventbrite link, go to clarksvillecrimestoppers.com.