Our History
The North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers program has been in operation within the North Okanagan since 1989 and has grown and seen many changes since its inception. North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers changed it's name from Vernon and District Crime Stoppers, in 1996, to its current name to assist with marketing the program and broadening the reach within the Northern part of the programs coverage areas. The current Crime Stoppers program serves the Vernon area and many other communities including Lumby all the way through to Salmon Arm, Sicamous and Revelstoke.
Since 1989 the North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers has received over 8,200 tips, recovered over $19,761,622 in drugs and stolen property and made over 460 arrests. The North Okanagan Shuswap Crime Stoppers program is proud to serve in the North Okanagan and surrounding communities while consistently striving to provide a method for the public to provide information to the police while maintaining 100% anonymity.
Crime Stoppers originated in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA in 1976, after a fatal shooting occurred.
Two weeks after the incident, police had no information and out of sheer desperation, Detective Greg MacAleese approached the local TV station requesting a reconstruction of the crime. The re-enactment was produced and a reward of US$ 1,000.00 was offered for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.
Within 72 hours a person telephoned in identifying the car leaving the scene and supplied the vehicle registration. The person calling did not want to be identified.
Detective MacAleese then realized that fear of reprisal and apathy were the primary reasons why the public tended not to engage with Police on these matters.
He subsequently designed a system where the public could anonymously provide details of crime events. This system focused on stimulating community involvement and participation, taking advantage of every possible media opportunity, especially electronic media, to publicise unsolved crimes; and offering cash rewards for information leading to an arrest and/or conviction.
Since its first chapter was officially formed in Albuquerque in 1976, Crime Stoppers programs worldwide have been responsible for over a million arrests and the seizure of more than US$10 billion in illegal drugs.
Crime Stoppers now helps to solve a crime every 14 minutes somewhere in the world.