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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-08-03, Page 5The scene of the crime THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1988. PAGE 5. Re-enactment really works BY TOBY RAINEY An anonymous telephone call, made to police in Guelph, is being credited with helping to lead police to a man being charged in the slaying of an eight-year-old Mount Forest girl recently. The call is one more example of how the Crime Stoppers program is working. Searchers found the child's body about 24 hours after she had been reported missing on July 16. in a secluded gravel pit about two miles north of the community; she had been sexually assaulted and died from a blow on the head. On July 19. a 27-year-old Mount Forest man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in con­ nection with the incident. Police say that a major break in the case came late Monday (July 18) when a caller gave information to Constable Jim Butler of the Guelph Ontario Provincial Police detachment, who has also been the co-ordinator of the Crime Stoppers program in Wellington County since it began just two months ago. “It helped give police a break­ through in the case,'’ said OPP Staff Sgt. Rick Brayshaw, who explained that all Crime Stoppers information in the county is channelled through the Guelph office. The joint investigation by the OPP and Mount Forest police was “like putting together pieces of a puzzle," Const. Butler said. “The information called in was an important piece of the puzzle. It helped reconstruct events sur­ rounding the death. And it solidi­ fied the case. It was exhiliarating to get such an important call." Under the terms of the Crime Stoppers program, the caller, who was from “the Mount Forest area,” according to police, does not have to identify himself, nor In the final scene of the Crime Stoppers re-enactment, the young “thieves” race away across the gravel pit’syard; they wheeled the stolen tools nearly one-quarter mile before loading them into a waiting truck. Re-enactment producer and CKNX-TV cameraman Glenn Creamer records the entire “crime”, which is later shown on television across the county. Both volunteer actors are from Goderich. will he have to testify in court. But since the information he called in led to an arrest, he could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if he chooses to pursue the matter. The Mount Forest incident highlights the dramatic results that the program has been getting wherever it has been tried, bring­ ing high praise from police officers and citizens alike. First started in the USA by a former Canadian police officer working there, Crime Stoppers began in Canada in 1984, when it was instituted in Hamilton, and later, in Toronto, with specta­ cular results. As of October, 1987, more than 1,000 arrests had been made and close to 3,000 charges laid in Metropolitan Toronto alone, as the result of the more than 11,000 calls that had come in to the toll-free number. In addition, more than $1.6 million in stolen property had been recovered, and a further $16.1 million (street value) in drugs seized. The first Crime Stoppers pro­ gram involving the Ontario Provin­ cial Police was set up in Essex County in the fall of 1986, and by the end of 1988 is expected to be in effect in all 16 OPP districts in the province. In the first 10 months that the Grey-Bruce area used the According to ponce, tne thieves [played by Vince Doherty, left and Greg Alcock] loaded tools and equipment into a barrel on a shop dolly to make for easy carrying. program, 18 arrests were made and some 50 cases cleared from police books, while in Huron County, where the program has onlybeen in effect since March, two arrests have been made, four cases cleared, and nearly $3,000 in stolen property recovered, accord- ing to co-ordinator Jeff Sabin of the Goderich detachment of the OPP. The rate of success locally compares favourably with the rhte.elsewhere, Const. Sabin says, with one crime solved per every 17,000 in population in Huron, compared with one crime solved in every 20,000 in population in Halifax. The two arrests made in Huron only resulted in a payout of $75, Const. Sabin said, explaining that statistics show that only about 40 per cent of Crime Stoppers tipsters later ask for a reward. The citizen-supported program allows people with information about a crime to report it to police without becoming directly involv­ ed, and without having to identify themselves - the two factors which makethe program work. Const. Sabin says. Each caller is identified only by a code number, known only to himself and to Const. Sabin; later, he may call back to see if his tip led toan arrest. Ifitdid, he may choose Crime Stoppers 'not a police program' Crime Stoppers isnotapolice program, but rather a co-operative program involvingthe community, the media and the police. All funding is raised through private and corporate donations, with no public money involved. Crime Stoppersof Huron County is administered by a board of directors composed of 15 citizens from across the county, including one, Doug Sholdice, from Brus­ sels. The board meets regularly and is responsible for establishing guidelines, and for fundraising, advertising and public relations. The committee is also respon­ The re-enactment of a year-old crime at Whitechurch Aggregates Ltd. near Lucknow begins when ayoung actor [Greg Alcock] appears furtively from behind a building crowbar in hand. His “partner” Is close behind. In the actual crime, some $13,000 worth of small power tools and hand tools were stolen in three separate break-ins over the course of a year. to reveal his name, again with no danger of it going any further than to the program co-ordinator, who will arrange for him to get whatever reward the program’s civilian board of directors has determined as suitable. The re­ ward "drops" are made in as much secrecy as are ransom payments made in the movies, laughs, Const. Sabin, again with the serious motive of protecting the informer’s identity. Police say that Crime Stoppers is a cost-effective program which definitely helps keep citizens and their property safe. Statistics show that for every $1 spent by the program in rewards and expenses, $16.35 worth of stolen property is recovered, with each case solved for less than $70. A volunteer board of directors, appointed by each Crime Stoppers area and made up of citizens of the community, determines the amount of each reward and makes the payment to those who deserve it, with no police involvement. Police feel that ordinary citizens become involved through a strong sense of civic duty, both as board members and as tipsters. They also recognize thatthe local media has a strongrole to play in promoting the program through appeals for information on unsolved crimes in both newspapers and on televi­ sion. The Crime Stoppers "Crime of the Week” is now a familiar feature of most Huron County newspapers, and the local televi­ sion station, CKNX, runs a visual re-enactment of the "crime of the month’’ on the third Monday of every month, during the six o’clock news. Police hope that actually seeing the “crime” in progress may jog someone’s memory, even if the actual crime occurred some time before. To produce these local re-enact­ ments, CKNX Goderich bureau chief Glenn Creamer and CKNX- TV donate their time to the production of each clip, with sible for determining the amount of any reward given to a person who has called in a tip which has led to an arrest; rewards may vary from $50 to $1,000, depending upon the value of the information, and unlike most rewards, are paid on arrest, not on conviction. The 1988-89 budget for Crime Stoppers of Huron County is $20,000, an amount which inc’udes thestart-upcostsofpurchasing the computer system and software necessary for the program. The local co-ordinator, Const. Jeff Sabin of the Goderich detachment of the OPP, is paid by the OPP. scenes produced, directed and taped by Mr. Creamer after consultation with Const. Sabin has provided the script. In each case, the “crime” is re-created at its original location, using the method that police have deduced was used by the actual criminals. Ordinary people of the same age and physical appearance as the sus­ pected criminals are asked to volunteer their services as actors for the re-enactment, which may take anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple of hours to get on tape. The media has been wonderful in all of this. Const. Sabin says, with most papers running the "Crime of the Week" regularly at no cost, while CKNX does the same. He admits that while the television re-enactments would appear to have the highest impact on the public, about 70 per cent of all Crime Stopper calls are made as aresultof "seeing it in the paper." For his donation of time and equipment, Mr. Creamer has been made an honorary director of the Huron County Crime Stoppers board of directors. "We all have to keep on working together to make this whole thing work," Const. Sabin concludes. “It’s neighbour helping neigh­ bour.” Const. Sabin and/or a member of the board is available to speak to service clubs and community groups about the program, which in turn often contribute toward the funding. A major fund-raising event is being planned for the entire county later this fall, although no details have yet been released. In addition, Crime Stoppers of Huron County is a registered charitable organization, and dona- tionsaretax deductible. Donations may be mailed to Crime Stoppersof Huron County, Box 461, Goderich. N7A 4C7.