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TIPS Hotline
- 956-668-TIPS (8477)
All calls are anonymous!
Information is kept strictly confidential.
Mission
The mission of Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers, Inc. is to assist area law
enforcement agencies in the fight
against crime in Hidalgo County.
History
The very first Crime Stoppers program began operation on September 8,
1976 in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. By mid 1977, Albuquerque could see a significant increase in its
case clearance rate of violent
crimes; as well as a decrease in their rate of occurrence.
In June of 1997, the Sheriff recognized the value of such a program. An
interim Board and a
Coordinator were selected. The first Coordinator was Lt. Fidel Jasso.
Deputy Colin Ashburn was then
assigned to assist Lt. Jasso. Deputy Ashburn has since moved on to head
up the states (Texas) Crime
Stoppers program. Deputy James Flores ("JP") is the designated Assistant
Coordinator presently. Deputy
Jeff Allen maintains the Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers web page.
Soon after, a civilian Crime Stoppers Board of Directors was established
and Hidalgo County Crime
Stoppers, Inc. was chartered as a non-profit tax exempt corporation.
Official operations began on June 16, 1997.
The program offers cash rewards and anonymity to citizens who utilize
the tips hotline to report information on
criminal activity. If their tip leads to an arrest of a crime offender,
the informant is eligible to receive a reward.
Overview:
Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers, Inc. continues to be successful because
it is a grassroots community action
program involving citizens, media, and law enforcement - all working
together to solve serious felony crimes.
It encourages citizen involvement in making our community a safer place
in which to work and live. As a result,
Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers, Inc. contributes to the quality of life
for the residents of Hidalgo County.
The organization is maintained by three entities:
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The
Media: Responsible for featuring the "Crime of the Week" and the "Most
Wanted" in order to
generate tips from their audiences. Also, the media promotes upcoming
special events and fund-raising
activities.
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The
Law Enforcement: Responsible for responding and following up on the
tips received through the
hotline.
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The
Community: Represented by a volunteer Board of Directors. Responsible
for overseeing the
operation and administration of funds for the program.
Revenue Generation:
Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c)(3)
organization. The funds needed to operate the
program are generated by individual and corporate donations.
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