In the mid-1970’s, the city of Albuquerque, NM (330,000 residents) held the record for the nation’s highest number of crimes per capita. The public lacked confidence in the police department, and morale within the department was low. Officers felt helpless against a surge of crime that had spiraled since the mid-1960’s. Crimes went unsolved, because no one would provide information about offenders. Victims felt that reporting crime was futile.
In 1976, Officer Greg MacAleese decided to do something. MacAleese put aside the high tech approach to law enforcement and fell back on a very traditional police theory…. rewards motivate people to give information that solves crimes. MacAleese developed a program aimed primarily at people who felt no moral obligation to cooperate with police. To avoid allegations of police corruption, MacAleese arranged for program funds to be raised by private citizens through a non-profit organization. This is how Crime Stoppers was born.
By 1979 the program had grown to become Crime Stoppers International with programs in Canada, England, the Netherlands, and West Africa. To date, Crime Stoppers is active in over 30 countries around the world. Utilizing the link between the Community, the Media, and Law Enforcement, Crime Stoppers was born.
Crime Stoppers is a partnership between the Community, the Media, and Law Enforcement, whose mandate is to “Work Together to Solve and Prevent Crime”
The program is a community based, non-profit registered corporation, managed by a civilian volunteer board of directors. It is a crime information collection operation, which enables anyone with information about the crime, and who wishes to remain anonymous, to pass that information on to law enforcement through a neutral organization. The program works because of its unique partnership between the public, the media and law enforcement, working together to resolve community problems through the apprehension of criminals and prevention of crime. It is an effective
partnership because everyone shares an equal role in solving crime.
Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi is composed of and services a nine county area; Alcorn, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Union, Tishomingo and Tippah counties; The board of directors currently numbers 22 members. The Executive Committee consists of the Board Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Past Chairman. The Tupelo Police Department serves as the host law enforcement agency and provides a law enforcement coordinator, as well as other resources.
Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi. Inc.: The beginning
Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi, Inc. had its humble beginnings with some of the planning being done in late 1992. On January 5, 1993 the Crime Stoppers mailing address and telephone line were established. The first formal meeting was held on January 18, 1993 at the Mall at Barnes Crossing.
Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi is composed of and services a nine county area: Alcorn, Chickasaw, Itawamba, Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Union, Tippah and Tishomingo counties. The board of directors currently numbers 22 members. The Executive Committee consists of the Board Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Past Chairman. The Tupelo Police Department serves as the host law enforcement agency and provides a law enforcement coordinator, as well as other resources.
2012 Officers:
Kadie Hall: Chair - Tippah County
Amy McCain Wyatt: Vice-Chair - Lee County
Sharon Terry: Secretary - Alcorn County
Bill Allen: Treasurer – Lee County
Gail Childers: Immediate Past Chair - Prentiss County
Law Enforcement Coordinator:
Captain Allan Gilbert
CO- Coordinator
Kenneth Shackelford
Associate Board Members:
Andy Hughes
Kenneth Jackson
Pat Smith
Fred H. Page
Ronnie Clayton
James Gary Coleman
Deborah Coleman
Nicky Carter
Delia Carter
Lydia Paseur
Jo Ann Herrington
Sue Jetton
2012 Board Members:
Dedra Walker – Alcorn County
Eddie Richey – Lee County
Kenneth Wheeler – Lee County
Bob Baugh- Lee County
Charlie Greer- Lee County
Robert (Bob) Chesnut – Pontotoc County
Clay Foster – Pontotoc County
Barbara Shackelford- Prentiss County
Bill Cooper – Union County
Jim Browning – Union County
John Walden – Chickasaw County
Norman Griffin – Chickasaw County
David Alan Hodge – Chickasaw County
Hollis Wigington- Tippah
Joanna Fowler- Tippah County
Dian Crawford – Tishomingo County
Janet Fulton – Tishomingo County
Bill Harrington- Tishomingo County
Gerald Jetton – Itawamba County
Jimmy Parker- Itawamba County
Mary Hood – Itawamba County