Crime Stoppers of Hamilton Inc.

Crime Stoppers of Hamilton Inc. is a Canadian nonprofit organization established in Hamilton, Ontario. It was one of the first Crime Stoppers programmes in Ontario, launched in May 1983.

History

The initiative began after Hamilton Police Chief Gordon V. Torrance attended an International Chiefs of Police Training Conference, where he learned about the Crime Stoppers concept. He returned to Hamilton and enlisted the help of one of his officers to study and implement the program. The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce played a crucial role in establishing the program, with Detective Jim Willis as the first Program Coordinator and Bernie Gillespie as the first Chairperson[2].

Mission

Crime Stoppers of Hamilton is a citizen-driven program that aims to help stop, prevent, and solve crimes through the collaboration of community members, the media, and law enforcement agencies. It encourages citizens to anonymously provide information about crimes that have occurred or are about to occur. The organization offers rewards for tips that lead to successful arrests[1][2].

Structure and Funding

Crime Stoppers of Hamilton Inc. operates under a civilian Board of Directors composed of local business and professional community members. This board is responsible for setting policies, promoting the program, and raising funds to pay rewards and cover operational costs. The organization is funded solely through personal and corporate donations[1][2].

Functionality

At the core of Crime Stoppers is the guarantee of anonymity for those who provide tips. These tips are processed and passed on to investigating officers without revealing the source. Rewards of up to $2,000 are offered for successful tips leading to arrests[1]. The organization works closely with both media outlets and law enforcement to publicize unsolved crimes and encourage community involvement in solving them[5].

Legal Protection

The anonymity of tipsters is protected by rulings from the Supreme Court of Canada, ensuring that individuals who provide tips will not be called as witnesses in court[1].

[1] https://crimestoppershamilton.com [2] https://crimestoppershamilton.com/about/ [3] https://www.guidestar.org/profile/02-0757640 [4] http://crime-stoppers.us [5] https://www.monroecountysheriff-ny.gov/community-engagement/crime-prevention/crime-stoppers