Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jan 2014
Source: Chatham Daily News, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2014 Chatham Daily News
Contact: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/letters
Website: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1627
Author: Vicki Gough

UNLAWFUL DRUG USE IS REDUCED

Anonymous Tips Important Tool In Combating Lawbreakers

The telephone continues to be the No. 1 choice used for relaying
information to Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers.

Program co-ordinator Const. Doug Goldsmith couldn't be
happier.

"Without that information to help kick start an investigation,
sometimes our officers come up empty-handed when they complete an
investigation and then we get a tip ... to lead them in a certain
direction," Goldsmith told The Chatham Daily News. In 2013 the program
received:

- - 477 telephone calls - 183 website tips - 20 text tips - 9 mobile
phone tips

Those 765 tips combined to remove $1,076,728 in drugs off the street,
Goldsmith said.

"The majority of drugs we're seeing is what I'd call hardcore,
methamphetamine and crack cocaine which is really unfortunate because
that stuff is nasty."

Still, that figure is about $100,000 less than 2012.

The difference reflects fewer marijuana plants found in Chatham-Kent
fields last year compared to 2012, Goldsmith said.

The $36,622 value of recovered stolen property in 2013 was down
significantly from the $229,600 worth of missing items found in 2012.

Goldsmith said while officers executing drug search warrants continued
to find drugs last year, there was not the usual amount of stolen
property noticed at those residences.

The total calls received in 2013 were three more than the previous
year.

They produced: 109 arrests compared to 107 in 2012. 110 cases cleared
compared to 133 in 2012 180 charges laid compared to 197 in 2012
Anonymity is key to the program's overall success and tipsters are
never asked to appear in court, he added.

Calling it a productive year overall, Goldsmith said unlawful drug use
is the No. 1 reason people call Crime Stoppers.

The organization paid 37 rewards totalling $9,100 for tips last year.
In 2012, $8,950 was awarded in 44 cases. Since inception in 1987, the
program has resulted in: 23,248 calls 5,846 arrests 10,058 cases
cleared 14,131 charges laid $9.6 million property recovered $84.7
drugs seized The Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers program became more
visible in 2013 with just over 40 new signs installed across the
municipality through local sponsorships.

The organization celebrates Crime Stoppers month in January by
offering some free skating times throughout the municipality.

Annual fundraising events kick off Jan. 18 with an indoor golf
tournament, followed by a Father's Day run on June 15 and a rodeo on
June 27.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D