N.B. Crime Stoppers, Inc.

RCMP-GRC

HISTORY OF MIRAMICHI CRIME STOPPERS
23 years of helping to stop, solve, and prevent crime in Miramichi

Crime Stoppers is an effective world-wide crime-solving organization with the primary objective of combining the resources of the media, law enforcement and the general public to solve crime. A steadfast principal of Crime Stoppers is the ability to collect information or “tips” on crime and criminals from citizens. To get these people involved, and to overcome apathy and indifference, cash awards are offered. To overcome people’s fear of retaliation, or fear of involvement, we guarantee total anonymity. Media is used to notify the public of a crime and solicit cooperation in providing information. Law enforcement takes the information and aggressively investigates; hopefully with a successful conclusion. Crime Stoppers helps to solve a major crime every 14 minutes somewhere in the world.

On March 11, 1987, an organizational meeting was held at the Town Hall in Newcastle, N.B. Thirty community members and three police coordinators attended the meeting. The first meeting of the Miramichi Crime Stoppers was held March 30, 1987. The executive consisted of President, Steve Lowery; Treasurer, Harold Parlee; and Secretary, David Foley. Nineteen board members were present.

In 1989, in response to public demand, the Miramichi Crime Stoppers established a "Special Appeals Fund" in light of recent violent crimes on the Miramichi. A goal of $25,000 was set on October 18, 1989.

Through tremendous response from local businesses, unions, and the public, the sum of $78,000 was raised in less than a month for the special fund.

On November 16, 1989, a motion was passed at a board meeting to offer a $25,000 award for the capture of Allan Legere. Later this amount was increased to $50,000.

The highlight for Miramichi Crime Stoppers came when awards in excess of $50,000 were paid for the recapture of Allan Legere. It was information from tipsters that led to solving the most serious and violent crime spree on the Miramichi. This award was one of the largest amounts awarded by a Crime Stoppers Board in New Brunswick.

"Working together to help solve crimes"
Board of Directors -  June 5, 2008
Board of Directors - June 5, 2008

Miramichi Crime Stoppers is a chapter of N.B. Crime Stoppers, Inc. and serves the areas covered by District 6 Miramichi RCMP (Eel Ground, Red Bank, Sunny Corner, Blackville) and Miramichi Police Force (City of Miramichi). Crime Stoppers is managed by a civilian board of directors who establish policy, raise funds to operate the program, and authorize award payments.

Today, two of the founding members of Miramichi Crime Stoppers remain actively involved on the Board. Harold Parlee remains as treasurer and Agnes Keoughan-Lynch is involved in fundraising.

The present Miramichi Crime Stoppers Board includes, President Stephen MacDougald; Vice-President Mark LeBelle; Treasurer Harold Parlee; Secretary Marion Burtt; Recruitment and Promotions Director Scott Cowan; A. Keoughan-Lynch; Q. MacDougald; and police coordinators representing the Miramichi Police Force - Detective Constable Shane Henderson; Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Sunny Corner-Blackville (District #6) - Corporal Richard Girouard; and Department of Natural Resources (Region 2) - Forest Warden, Emery Perry.

Crime Stoppers is a charitable organization and community service program, which helps solve and prevent Crime in your neighbourhood. We are supported by donations from citizens, businesses, service clubs, and other organizations interested in contributing to this worthwhile group with proven statistics. Funds raised in Miramichi are kept within the region, and often used to pay Tipsters. Click here to learn more about supporting Crime Stoppers, or view our current fundraising activities.



One Officer’s Vision: How the Crime Stoppers concept began

Crime Stoppers was the idea of a man named Greg MacAleese, a police officer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.A. After helplessly watching Albuquerque’s rising crime rate and seeing the public’s fear of the criminal element, he felt something had to be done to change people’s attitudes towards getting involved. MacAleese knew that for just about every crime, someone other than the offender knew about it and could help police solve the case. The challenge was to get the right information from the right person at the right time. MacAleese understood the importance of citizen involvement. The only question seemed to be, “How do you motivate people to get involved?”

 

His idea took a two-pronged approach:

  • To overcome apathy (indifference), cash awards must be offered
  • To overcome people’s fear of criminal retaliation, or just fear of involvement, it would be necessary to offer anonymity.

 

Discussions with the Albuquerque Police Department indicated that award money should come from the general public instead of through tax dollars (to this day, Crime Stoppers is a civilian-run organization; there is no government intervention at all). It was suggested that a civilian Board of Directors be created to lend integrity to the program. It was also decided that awards would only be paid after information received by Crime Stoppers had produced a tangible result.

 

Crime Stoppers pays awards based on arrest (not conviction) of the person responsible for a particular crime. This speeds up payment of awards to tipsters and assures that police forces are well on their way to achieving a successful solution to the crime.

 


Crime Stoppers proves successful

The first call on September 8, 1976, quickly turned doubters into believers.

 

Other communities, hearing of Albuquerque’s success, soon adopted the Crime Stoppers concept. They quickly learned that the program could also be effective for them. The first Canadian Crime Stoppers program was established in Calgary, Alberta in 1982.

 

The Crime Stoppers program is a three-way partnership involving private citizens, the media, and the police community. Getting people to care is what Crime Stoppers is all about.

Since 1976, more than 950 Crime Stoppers programs have been established worldwide. More than 1.1 million crimes have been solved since its inception, and over $8.5 billion worth of stolen property and narcotics have been seized.

 


Province just got a little safer: Crime Stoppers comes to New Brunswick

In February 1985, a motion was passed at a meeting of the New Brunswick Association of Chiefs of Police that called for the implementation of a Crime Stoppers program in central New Brunswick. With the approval of the provincial Attorney-General, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police set up a mini-task force, comprised of two RCMP officers and one Fredericton City Police officer.

 

These people began studying the Crime Stoppers program as a whole and went on to establish chapters in the Woodstock, Fredericton, Oromocto, Minto, and Chipman areas of New Brunswick. Several private citizens throughout the province volunteered to help and they became part of an organization that would later be known as N.B. Crime Stoppers Inc./ Échec au crime N.-B. Inc.

 

Four local/regional Boards (chapters) were formed. While staying independent, they would remain under the umbrella of the parent organization, N.B. Crime Stoppers. These four boards were:

Western N.B. Crime Stoppers; Capital Region Crime Stoppers; Oromocto Crime Stoppers (later renamed Oromocto-Gagetown); and Grand Lake Area Crime Stoppers. In the past 20 years, the program has grown to encompass all of New Brunswick. As of 2005, 21 local/regional Chapters make up N.B. Crime Stoppers Inc., with approximately 300 volunteers. Many of these people have been members since the program’s inception in 1985.

 


N.B. Crime Stoppers: Behind the yellow tape

Each Chapter has its own civilian Board of Directors and law enforcement coordinators from each local police force and/or RCMP Detachment, as well as representatives from Department of Natural Resources.

 

The provincial Board (N.B. Crime Stoppers, Inc.) has the services of its own police coordinator. The provincial coordinator is the liaison between New Brunswick’s police community and N.B. Crime Stoppers Inc., as well as the media.

 

All TIPS are received at the Police Coordinator’s Office at 1-800-222-8477. Calls are never recorded or traced – that is Crime Stoppers’ guarantee! Anonymity remains the single, most important reason why people call Crime Stoppers. Many callers are not interested in a cash award; however, the funds are available for those who wish to receive one.

 

Four times a year, the 21 local boards (and their coordinators) meet with the parent board for a provincial meeting. Problems, new ideas, correspondence, etc. are discussed quarterly. At an annual meeting, members of N.B. Crime Stoppers examine the program’s operations during the past year.

 

Board membership is a commitment of far more than just time. Members must give of their energy, talents, and creativity. Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization: board members are not paid. Their hard work reflects a belief in the philosophy of the program: helping solve crimes and a desire to see justice done.

 

Crime Stoppers is an effective world-wide crime-solving organization with the primary objective of combining the resources of the media, law enforcement and the general public to solve crime. A steadfast principal of Crime Stoppers is the ability to collect information or “tips” on crime and criminals from citizens. To get these people involved, and to overcome apathy and indifference, cash awards are offered. To overcome people’s fear of retaliation, or fear of involvement, we guarantee total anonymity. Media is used to notify the public of a crime and solicit cooperation in providing information. Law enforcement takes the information and aggressively investigates; hopefully with a successful conclusion.


Our mission is to develop Crime Stoppers as an effective crime solving organization throughout New Brunswick, with the primary objective being: helping to stop, solve, and prevent crime -together.


N.B. Crime Stoppers is a member in good-standing of
Canadian Crime Stoppers Association and Crime Stoppers International



 

N.B. Crime Stoppers - Service Districts

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Message from Miramichi Crime Stoppers President:


This year marks Miramichi Crime Stoppers’ 23rd anniversary serving the communities of Miramichi, Blackville, Eel Ground, Sunny Corner, Red Bank and surrounding areas. The local chapter has had a successful year with several fundraisers, such as our merchandise bingo in Eel Ground this past June, thus assuring funds would be available for awards to tipsters. Throughout the year, the Miramichi Chapter has recommended several awards due to the increasing number of credible tips being received at the Crime Stoppers office from the Miramichi region. In addition, many tips are being received electronically via our secure and anonymous TipSoft application at http://www.solvecrimes.org. 

Since launching in 2005, Miramichi Crime Stoppers’ website, aimed at community awareness, and local fundraising for the program, continues to garner tremendous support from the community - an average of 35 unique visitors check out the site per day. The website compliments the existing provincial site with local news and upcoming events, detailed information on how to place a call to Crime Stoppers, safety advice from various jurisdictions, and a list of unsolved crimes within the Miramichi Region that require public assistance. Visitors can now view actual surveillance footage of several unsolved crimes that are featured, as well as submit tips securely on-line in both official languages. In June, the site participated in Crime Stoppers International’s Operation INFRA (International Fugitive Round Up and Arrest), which highlighted 22 internationally wanted fugitives that are believed to be residing in Canada. The world-wide initiative concluded with proof that working together will make a difference and stop crime in its tracks. The Miramichi Crime Stoppers website can be viewed at http://www.solvecrimes.org 

Citizens may be surprised to learn we now accept secure and anonymous tips via text messaging. Cell and smartphone users can text 'TIP212 followed by your information' to CRIMES (274637). You can still contact us traditionally on your cell as well – Bell customers can dial *8477, and Rogers customers dial #8477 to reach our operators.


The present Miramichi Crime Stoppers Board includes, President Stephen MacDougald; Vice-President Mark LeBelle; Treasurer Harold Parlee; Secretary Marion Burtt; Recruitment and Promotions Director Scott Cowan; A. Keoughan-Lynch; Q. MacDougald; and police coordinators representing the Miramichi Police Force - Detective Constable Shane Henderson; Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Sunny Corner-Blackville (District #6) - Corporal Richard Girouard; and Department of Natural Resources (DNR Region 2) - Forest Warden, Emery Perry.

Miramichi Crime Stoppers is committed to helping solve crimes and making the community a safer place through the collaboration of the public, the media, and law enforcement. Our board continues to assist law enforcement agencies in their endeavour to reduce crime in our communities and solicits the public’s support. Remember – everyone benefits, except the criminal!


Stephen MacDougald,  [E-mail Mr. MacDougald]
Chapter President
Miramichi Crime Stoppers



Miramichi Crime Stoppers congratulates out-going DNR representative (05/03/03)

President Stephen MacDougald and Mike J. Fletcher

Miramichi Crime Stoppers President, Stephen MacDougald congratulates Mike J. Fletcher on his retirement from the Department of Natural Resources. Mr. Fletcher was the DNR representative with Miramichi Crime Stoppers from 1996 - 2005. A certificate was given to Mr. Fletcher during his final meeting on March 3, 2005 for his dedication and continuous support of the Crime Stoppers program. The local chapter will welcome Michael Cain as the new DNR representative effective April 2005.



Message from N.B. Crime Stoppers, Inc. President:


This year marks N.B. Crime Stoppers’ 25th anniversary. Like any other similar organization, we have had many good moments. However, we are still facing important challenges ahead. One of those remains our limited resources to raise funds to support the program, which allows us to get information from the public in areas of unsolved crimes. It is that information from the general public which allows law enforcement agencies to make our communities safer places.

 

Who would have said 25 years ago that this program, created with public, media, and law enforcement support, would help resolve over 7,060 crimes; to lay over 8,300 charges, not to mention, recovery of over $7.2 million in stolen goods; over $49 million in drug seizures; over $2 million in fraud seizures; and more than $13 million recovered in arson cases. Who would have believed that our volunteers would pay more than $638,000 in cash awards?

 

As you can see, our volunteers are proud to have contributed to such a success, and we are pleased to extend an invitation to you to celebrate with us as members of the community, partners, media, and all of those who have used the Crime Stoppers’ TIPS Line 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) to provide information regarding a crime.

 

For that support, we say Thank You!


Ron Godin,
President
N.B. Crime Stoppers, Inc.





A crime is committed and you know who is responsible - we're interested in receiving tips on any crime, whether featured or not.
If your tip leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash award. You will never have to give your name, or testify in court.
Text a tip anonymously: Text 'TIP212 followed by your information' to CRIMES (274637).
Learn More
Call N.B. Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) - Anonymity Guaranteed!

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end us your feedback: enquiry@solvecrimes.org
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N.B. Crime Stoppers is a proud member of Crime Stoppers International - Helping to stop, solve, and prevent crime togetherN.B. Crime Stoppers is a proud member of Canadian Crime Stoppers Association (CCSA) - Helping to stop, solve, and prevent crime -togetherOperation Hands off is a nationally coordinated crime prevention strategy. Join The Fight Against Loss Prevention