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PAGE 4THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, MAY 9,2001 Can you help? Durham Regional Police and Crime Stoppers are asking for the public's help in solving a violent attack on a woman who was cut on the face with a knife and robbed near Durham College last month. The victim was walking south on the west side of Simcoe Street near the college at 7 p.m. March 20 when a male wearing a ski mask confronted her and demanded demanded money and cigarettes. When the woman refused, the bandit grabbed her from behind and held a knife to her face, causing a minor wound. The victim struggled with her 1 ' assailant, managing to grab the •' knife and throw it away. The attacker attacker continued the assault, hurling hurling the woman to the ground and robbing her of cash and cigarettes. cigarettes. He then fled on foot running running north. The suspect is described as 16-to-18, 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds. He was wearing a black ski mask, shiny black bubble jacket and dark baggy pants with the right pant leg tucked into his sock. The socks were white with red stripes. Crime Stoppers will pay a cash reward for information leading leading to an arrest and callers never : have to give their name or testify ; in court. Crime Stoppers does not ' use call display. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 436- 8477 or 1-800-222-TIPS. . WALTER PASSARELIA/Statesman photo DURHAM - Sergeant Kevin Slaney, program supervisor for the Durham Regional Crime Stoppers says Crime Stoppers tips have played a role in solving solving crimes involving the entire 'criminal spectrum,' ranging from murders, robberies and sexual assaults to assaults, frauds, thefts and mischief Crime Stoppers: The real undercover police officers Crime Stoppers needs you to succeed BY STEPHEN SHAW Staff Writer DURHAM - The numbers are enough to make any criminal cringe. In 15 years of existence, Durham Regional Regional Crime Stoppers has played a role in 2,154 arrests for a total of 4,928 charges and 2,023 crimes solved. During that time, anonymous tips have led police to the recovery of $3,826,386 worth of stolen goods and the seizure of $13 million in illegal drugs. As the program marks its 15th anniversary anniversary this month, more than statistics statistics alone, it's the satisfaction of safer streets and saving tax dollars that motivates motivates the 20 volunteer, civilian directors of the Durham Regional Crime Stoppers board. Like the confidential callers to the program, thé members who administer Crime Stoppers come from all walks of life - ranging from blue collar workers, small business owners, corporate executives, executives, lawyers and teachers - and work in relative anonymity, with little fanfare of public credit. Which is just fine with Chairman Tom Russell, the 59-year-old Oshawa resident and former cop in his native England. "We religiously show up for meetings, do our job and go back to our communities. The success of the program program is what drives us," says the retired Ontario Hydro employee, who has chaired the Durham Regional Crime Stoppers board since 1994. Maintaining the integrity of the program program is vital to its success, therefore the public never hears when a Crime Stoppers Stoppers tip leads to a break in a case. "It's very gratifying when a case is solved through a Crime Stoppers tipT There is nothing in it for us, other than a sense of satisfaction in knowing an arrest arrest has been made or a gun is taken off the street. We realize, in this day and age, with their limited resources, the police police can't do it all themselves. And by helping the police solve some crimes quicker, it means they can free up resources and, in the end, the program saves tax dollars," says Mr. Russell. The program is funded by public and corporate donations and tipsters are offered offered a cash reward of up to $1,000 for any information leading to an arrest. "We like to issue rewards, because rewards mean success," Mr. Russell says, smiling. Since its inception, Durham Crime Stoppers has authorized payment of $127,000 in tip money, however, less than half that cash has been collected. "By and large, we find that callers are more often than not seeking the anonymity, rather than the reward," says Durham Regional Police Sergeant Kevin Slaney, the 28-year veteran officer officer and supervisor of the program. Crime Stoppers tips have played a role in solving crimes involving the entire entire 'criminal spectrum,' ranging from murders, robberies and sexual assaults to assaults, frauds, thefts and mischief, Sgt. Slaney says. However, given the confidentiality of the sources - obviously they cannot be called on in court - the police are limited limited in how they use the tip information. "Crime Stoppers'only provides information, information, it is not evidence. It's used as an ■investigative tool. A great deal of the .time (the information) provided has moved an investigation along in cases where the investigators had no leads, or turned their heads in another direction," Sgt. Slaney says. The program's roots can be traced back to July 1976 in New Mexico, USA. Michael Carmen, a young gas station attendant attendant who was two weeks away from marrying his high school sweetheart, was shot to death during a robbery of the gas station where he was working. When the killers' trail went cold after six weeks, the lead police detective on the case, Greg MacAleese," originally from Ontario, issued an appeal to the community seeking leads. The violent crime rate in the city of Albuquerque, where the murder occurred, occurred, was extremely high at the time and to counter the community's apathy and fear, Det. MacAleese offered anonymity to callers and a cash reward as an incentive to anyone with information information about the murder. The appeal was televised; the response response was immediate. Within 72 hours, two suspects were in police custody for the killing and other area robberies. Now, 25 years later, there are more than 1,000 Crime Stoppers "partnerships" "partnerships" linking the public, the media and police in 16 countries. Crimes are highlighted in newspapers, newspapers, re-enacted in television broadcasts and, starting a year ago, profiled weekly on the Crime Stoppers Web site. Sgt. Slaney says the key to Crime Stoppers is the anonymity. In an ideal society, citizens would report any information information about criminal activity to the police police directly. "In reality, however, that just doesn't happen," he explains. "The beauty of Crime Stoppers is that it is a community-based program... And Crime Stoppers affords people in the community who would not ordinarily ordinarily come forward to the police the opportunity opportunity to pass on their information while maintaining their anonymity," reasons Sgt. Slaney. "We offer anonymity to deal with the fear and cash reward to deal with the apathy." In 1997, the program expanded into Durham schools with the launch of Student Student Crime Stoppers, which has so far resulted in 30 arrests, 52 charges, 27 cases solved and $34,480 worth of drugs the program does not subscribe to call wards are left in a sealed envelope aVa and stolen property recovered. display. In fact, in order to maintain the secret location. Callers to Crime Stoppers never have integrity, tipsters receive a code number Tipsters can call the hot-line at 1- to give their name or testify in court and in the event of future calls and their re- 800-222-TIPS or locally at 436-TIPS, j DI RH AM RM. ION CRIME STOPPERS. The Estate Imperative A Free Breakfast Seminar with JERRY WHITE Ifcsigncd to Address the Changing Financial Needs of Canadian Seniors & Snowbirds Jerry While is the syndicated host of Money Talks Coast' to Coast, your Family's Money and The Intelligent Investor. He is also editor & co-author of the bestseller Death & Taxes 2000, i r !•; !■: S EMI \ A K Thursday, May 17th at 2:00 p.m. Holiday Inn Oshawa 1011 Bloor St., E. Limited Seating To Reserve Your Free Seats Cali: 1-800-604-9428 24 hrs. / 7 days a week Let Jerry show you how to take advantage of your Estate Plan today, while providing protection in the future. 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