Smithville Police Department Starting New Crime Stoppers Program

The Smithville Police Department is forming a new Crime Stoppers Program.
A board of directors has been named to oversee the program and a set of by-laws are being developed to help govern the operation of it.
“Your local Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization which serves the City of Smithville,” said Chief Randy Caplinger. “Crime Stoppers consists of a Board of Directors, who are local citizens in this community and have regular jobs. The Board of Directors volunteer their time to make decisions for Crime Stoppers, such as the amounts to pay out as rewards for crime tips. Crime Stoppers is funded solely by fundraising campaigns and donations,” he said.
The city has received a grant, in the amount of $6,250, to start up the program. Five thousand dollars of the grant will be for rewards and the remaining $1,250 for administrative costs including equipment and advertising.
Crime Stoppers is led by designated coordinators, Chief Caplinger and Corporal Travis Bryant, giving out descriptions of local crimes via local media such as the local newspapers and the radio station.
Crime Stoppers works by giving the citizens an opportunity to call in anonymously and give information on a crime and then a number is assigned to that caller. If an arrest is made based on that information then the Board of Directors determines how much of a reward is given for that tip. These rewards can total up to $1,000 for a single tip. Also, Crime Stoppers gives out rewards based on an arrest for that crime not a conviction for the crime.
So remember, if you know information about ANY crime in the community, no matter how large or small, just call and give your information. It doesn’t matter if they publish the crime or play it on the radio. If your information leads to an arrest, you may receive an award.
Members of the Crime Stoppers Board are Sue Conley, CEO of DeKalb Community Hospital; John Daniels of Regal Craft Kitchens; Phillip (Fluty) Cantrell, local businessman; Jeff Armstrong, minister of the Smithville Church of God; Karen Caplinger, of Potters Home Center; Dwayne Page, manager of WJLE; Shawn Jacobs, alderman and city police and fire commissioner; Mayor Jimmy Poss; City secretary-treasurer Hunter Hendrixson; and alderman and local attorney Gayla Hendrix.