It’s July 1976 in Albuquerque New Mexico. University student Michael Carmen, is two weeks away from graduating and marrying his high school sweet heart, when he agrees to cover a night shift for a friend working in a small local gas station. While working, Michael is gunned down at point blank range with .12 gauge shot gun during a botched robbery.

Canadian born Greg MacAlese was one of the detectives working the case. After six weeks of trying to piece the evidence together, investigators were no closer to solving the murder than the night it had occurred.

Out of desperation, MacAlese approached the general manager of a local television station in Albuquerque and asked him if he would re-enact the crime for one of his newscasts. Detective MacAlese was sure that someone in the city of 350,000 people would know something or may have seen something to help solve the crime.

On September 8th, 1976 – guaranteeing anonymity and offering a cash reward from his own pocket, the first crime re-enactment was broadcast on the ten o’clock news. Within 72 hours of the broadcast the case was solved and two men were charged with murder as a result of a viewers tip called in after watching the re-enactment – and thus Crime Stoppers was born.

Crime Stoppers is a partnership of the public, the police and the media working together to solve crime. The program provides citizens with a means to supply police with information ANONYMOUSLY. Anonymity is the basis of the program. Tipsters – or people who call Crime Stoppers – NEVER have to give their name, they NEVER have to testify in court, the program does not subscribe to call display and the calls are not recorded or traced.

Since it’s formation in 1976, Crime Stoppers has become the most successful crime-solving partnership in history. Currently there are 1117 Crime Stoppers programs throughout the world – from Great Britain to Australia, Fiji to Jamaica. Prosecutions based on Crime Stoppers tips have an average conviction rate of 95%.

How It Works
How Crime Stoppers works is a member of the community has information concerning a criminal offence or suspicious activity but does not want to speak to the police directly, perhaps due to a feeling of apathy or fear of reprisal from the parties involved. This person call the 1-800-222-TIPS line and provides the information ANONYMOUSLY to Coordinator. The caller, or Tipster as we call them, is given a confidential code number and is asked to use this number to identify themselves each time they call back to either provide more information in the form of an update, or to check on the status of the tip. If there are no updates on the information provided, the tipster is instructed to call back in approximately 60 days – allowing time for the appropriate agency to investigate the tip.

Crime Stoppers has working partnerships with every Police Service throughout the world including, Ontario Provincial Police, RCMP and working relationships with Canada Customs, Citizenship and Immigration, The Ministry of Natural Resources, Children’s Aid Society, Insurance Crime Prevention Bureau, Canadian Bankers Association, Cogeco Cable and many other local and international organizations. Depending on the nature of the tip, the information is forwarded to the most appropriate agency for investigation.

If that tip leads to the successful conclusion of a case – either by arrest, or recovery of stolen property or narcotics – that tipster becomes eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000. Identifying themselves at all times by the confidential code number received with the initial phone call, the tipster is advised of a public drop-off location; where he attends, identifies himself with his code number and walks away with an envelope containing the cash reward.

A volunteer civilian board of directors who establish policy, raise funds to operate the program and authorize reward payments manages Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers is cost effective and is not a burden to taxpayers. It is supported through it’s own fundraising activities and by donations from individuals, corporations and service groups. Crime Stoppers is a federally registered charity and donations are tax-exempt.