CrimeStoppers reviews tip reward
Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008
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Stumble It!Fairbanks CrimeStoppers is reviewing whether a college student who helped track down a couple suspected of more than a dozen burglaries and vehicle break-ins throughout the state is eligible for a reward.
CrimeStoppers in Anchorage already offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the pair, but they told University of Alaska Fairbanks student Amanda Mortensen that she wouldn’t receive any money from them because she called Fairbanks police first.
After her purse, laptop and iPod were stolen from her car, Mortensen, along with her friends and family scoured Fairbanks looking for the suspects. Fairbanks police say her work was instrumental in bringing theft charges against Jason Bradley Brisson, 31, and Brenda Audry Rodgers, 41.
David Coleman, president of Fairbanks CrimeStoppers said that the group might have already put out a reward for some of the cases Brisson and Rodgers are suspected of being involved in. He also questioned why the Anchorage organization would refuse someone an award for calling police first.
“If your house was on fire, would you call 911 or would you the call the business line?” he asked.
A final decision is expected Thursday. Mortensen said that if she gets the money, she would like to thank everyone who helped her, including the security team at Fred Meyer East, with a large barbecue. She would also put the money toward replacing the window that was broken out and some of the items that were stolen. Police were only able to recover her laptop.
CrimeStoppers was founded in Fairbanks in 1980, and has helped solve many high-profile cases since its inception. Many tips come from those currently incarcerated.
Surprisingly, a lot of citizens turn down the reward, which is a maximum of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of a felony suspect.
“Either they don’t need it or they do it because they’re more civic-minded,” Coleman said.
Callers can remain completely anonymous. In some cases, CrimeStoppers has made blind drops at parks or other public places so a caller can pick up their reward, in cash, with no questions asked. The group is looking for more volunteers to serve on its board of directors. For more information, call 456-CLUE.
Community Discussion
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Maybe we need a citizens detective team...at least they would be willing to respond!
A couple of years ago when I had the tires stolen off my car while I slept I too called the police. I was told to come in to the police dept and fill out a report. I told them sure, I'll be right in...my car has no tires on it. If they would have taken the time to actually come out there were handprints all over my car that they could've taken and probably caught a person that was responsible for a rash of thefts that was going on at the time.
That is the kind of BS that makes a person tired of the law. They are always willing to give you a ticket, but to go out of their way and respond to your needs - heck no.
I hope Crime Stoppers will do the right thing and give her the money. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, Amanda.
That is great that some people are "civic minded". Its even possible these people did not have something stolen from them. Another thing, has the thought come that the reward is not even enough to cover a damaged window, purse, wallet, ipod, school books, and personal security. $1,000 dollars does not go very far theses days. Good job Amanda, you deserve more that a weeks worth of gas money. ;)
Crime stoppers PONEY UP IF YOU WANT TO SAVE FACE......
Did the Anchorage CrimeStoppers state she had to call them first? They definitely need to pay!
whats the number for Crime Stoppers so I can call them instead of 911?
Thanks Amanda, I hope you get paid.
Crimestoppers dont offer money if your not going to pay it!!!It is very obvious Amanda deserves this money and I'm sure all the other people who have had their belongings stolen by these 2 scum bags will agree. and Mr. Coleman a "Civic Minded" your telling me that you wouldnt take the money if your window had just got broken out and your whole life stolen. Not even to replace the window at least.....
Why not make fake purse, laptop ,iPod and etc in bait car and set video camrea with zoom up at 1/8 or less mile away from bait car in park lot . and wait for arrest who the one break in..
How is CrimeStoppers funded?
Sherry,
It's not that the Fairbanks police aren't willing to take the time to investigate property crimes. They're extremely understaffed - they are unable to investigate property crimes because there are not enough police officers to do so. Perhaps if Fairbanksans were willing to pay more taxes to fund a better-staffed police department, they would be able to investigate these things.
Crimestoppers is designed to get people to rat out bad guys.... not as reimbursement.... but I feel for the student, who is out on money and obviously did a good job.
The short answer:
First we are Fairbanks CS and are in no way affiliated with Anchorage or any other CS.
Yes folks most CS organizations require the call to go thru CS to be elegible for a reward; here also until we changed that rule years ago and it is no longer an automatic exclusion from consideration. Some things still are exclusions such as being a party involved in the crime; a Law Enforcemet Officer in the preformance of His/Her job and others. Need can never be a consideration as requesting a financial statment is somewhat ludicrus. The only number you need is your anonomous tip number.
Crimestoppers primary function is to elicit information regarding crimes via reward from indivuals or groups who might otherwise not reveal what they know about a criminal activity in return for monetary gain or simply the safety of being able to not be identified. Rewards not intended to be a subsistute for homeowners, renters, vehicle insurance or to in any way be a reimbursment fund for damages, physical or property. It is not public funds. Monies to fund reward are donated by you, the good people of the Fairbanks Area.
The CrimeStoppers BOD is charged with making the best use of limited funds under the By-Laws and rules FCS. They are are rules for our community and have been refined for over 25 years to serve the community best. We welcome anyone who wants to be involved.
Most crimes against property do not qualify for rewards as they are not Felonies. This is simply due to the overwhelming number of Misdemeaners and lack of funding. When they are Felonys there are a number of other factors that are considered:
Was it called into CrimeStoppers?
Was it called in when it was advertized as "Crime of the Week"
Was the tip instrumential in solving the case, was there an arrest.
These combined with a list of other criteria determine, if, and how much of a reward will be offered. And yes, many people, most actualy refuse the money. This is a fact and I simply called it "civic minded" for lack of a better word in a quick telephone interview.
The decision, hard as it may be will be based on the guide lines and rules, nothing else. The terms "saving face" and "Pony up" are not on the form!
One of the reasons I am involved is because I too have been down the same road of being stolen from and having to go find my own car, truck, atv more times that I can remember. I choose to try to be part of the solution so perhaps we all will have less crime and more peace of mind.
This organization and the Fairbanks Community has put together Major Reward Funds exceeding $50,000 to attempt to solve the murder of Local teens in less than two weeks! We have several such Funds now; it would be great to have this kind of money for property crimes also.
FCS is not broken; however it can be better, all it takes is you.
Dave Coleman,
Pres. FCS
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