About Crime Stoppers
Crime Stoppers began in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in September of 1976. In partnership with the media and local law enforcement agencies, members of the local community began an effort to provide crime-solving assistance to law enforcement.
A cash reward was offered to anonymous persons who telephone the Crime Stoppers hotline with information that led to the arrest and indictment of the person(s) responsible for felony offenses.
Today, there are over 1,000 Crime Stoppers programs in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Bahamas, British West Indies, Micronesia, and other nations.
In November of 2013, Sheriff Tommy Gage appointed Deputy Steven Squier to the postition of Crime Stoppers Coordinator. Deputy Squier is a liason for both the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors.
The program contracts with a Crime Stoppers call taking program which allows the tip line to be answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by Crime Stoppers call takers. The coordinator handles each and every tip that is called into Crime Stoppers. They corroborate information, research, assemble the tip, direct the information to the appropriate agency, follow-up with the agency on the tip/arrest information, and prepare successful tips for reward distribution.
In addition, they prepare featured fugitives, public releases, felony fugitive lists, unsolved crime stories and more. Although the administrative offices are open during regular business hours Monday through Friday, crime and criminals are out there everyday during every hour of the day. Therefore, the coordinator is on-call to the 24 hour a day tip line for pertinent tips and information regarding felony fugitives, unsolved crimes, and prevention of specific criminal activity.
Contact Information
Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Incorporated
# 1 Criminal Justice Drive
Conroe, Texas, 77301
Phone: (936) 539-7867 Fax: (936) 538-3235
Tip Line: 1-800-392-(STOP)7867
Three Essential Elements Make Up a Crime Stoppers Program
THE COMMUNITY Citizens are responsible for forming a Crime Stoppers non-profit corporation, whose directors establish policy, determine the amount and method of reward payments, work closely with the law enforcement agenices and the media and generally oversee the program. The directors are also responsible for fundraising and are all volunteers. Tax money is not sought.
THE MEDIA Crime Stoppers methods, objectives, successes, and phone numbers are publicized on a regular basis by the media. An unsolved “Crime of the Week” is given special treatment with details published in newspapers, on radio, and in certain cases a re-enactment on television.
LAW ENFORCEMENT A special Crime Stoppers phone with a well-publicized number is provided to the community. Callers are assigned a special Code number and NEVER give their names. If, after the investigation, the information leads to an arrest, the caller may be entitled to a reward.
Montgomery County Crime Stoppers, Inc. dba Multi-County Crime Stoppers is a 501(C) (3) non-profit organization comprised of a civilian board of directors residing in Montgomery, Liberty, and San Jacinto counties. We operate a 24-hour tip line, answered 365 days a year, allowing citizens who wish to remain anonymous, an opportunity to call in and leave information to assist local law enforcement agencies. Our mission is to keep Montgomery, Liberty, and San Jacinto counties safe places to live, work and play. We work with law enforcement agencies, news media outlets, and the public to publicize and gain intelligence on felony crimes occurring in our tri-county area and to assist in the apprehension of wanted felon fugitives.
Law Enforcement – Multi-County Crime Stoppers work with federal, state, and local Law Enforcement agencies, operating within our tri-county area, by helping to publicize felony crimes and wanted felons. While publicizing the information we encourage any citizen, with information to call our tip line, at any time and anonymously provide information about the crime or known location of a wanted felon. Multi-County Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of any felony suspect as an added incentive.
News Media – Multi-County Crime Stoppers works with various news media outlets to assist law enforcement agencies in publicizing information about felony crimes or wanted fugitives.
The Public – Multi-County Crime Stoppers works with the public by encouraging everyone to provide tip information about felony crimes while remaining anonymous. This aspect of Crime Stoppers is the most important. We know that most people want to help keep their communities safe but do not want to get involved to the point where they might have to testify in court or possibly face retaliation from the suspects.
Chairman – Charles Costenbader
Vice-Chairman – Thom Bolsch
Treasurer – Todd Blackford
Assistant Treasurer – Ronnie Rector
Secretary – Jon Dumas
Marketing Chair – Monette Smith
