Crime Stoppers back in reward business

The program uses TV, radio and newspapers to get the message out.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Greater Youngstown Crime Stoppers is back in the reward business with money expected to come from a $1 fee tacked on to criminal cases.

Details of the program were to be announced today at a news conference in city council chambers. Mayor Jay Williams, Police Chief Jimmy Hughes, members of the Crime Stoppers governing board and others were expected to be on hand.

The state Legislature adopted a funding mechanism that became effective statewide April 5, 2007. The law allows for a $1 fee to be added to all court cases — municipal, county and common pleas — except traffic. It also requires that county commissioners designate through a resolution which reward program or programs should receive funding.

Mahoning County commissioners are expected to enact the collection fee sometime this month, said Detective Sgt. Chuck Swanson, who serves as law enforcement liaison with the Crime Stoppers governing board. He said the 15-member board, all private citizens, is headed up by Andrea Wood, publisher of The Business Journal.

To start, Crime Stoppers will feature crimes for any police agency in Mahoning County, Swanson said. He said commissioners in Trumbull and Columbiana counties will be approached soon to participate.

The reward-driven Crime Stoppers has been practically nonexistent in The Vindicator or on TV the past three years because it had virtually no reward money to pay out. On occasion, the family of a crime victim would offer a reward.

The last influx of a sizable amount of cash came in 1996, when outgoing Mahoning County Prosecutor James A. Philomena turned over $20,000 to the program, according to Vindicator files.

The Greater Youngstown Crime Stoppers was formed Feb. 4, 1986.

This week, Crime Stoppers will highlight the June 3, 2006, homicide of Jefferey Foster. He was found rolled in a carpet in the driveway of 18 E. Auburndale Ave. on the South Side, apparently shot in the head.

Capt. Kenneth Centorame, chief of detectives, said three other homicides from 2006 will be featured in the coming weeks. He said they were chosen based on solvability.

Crime Stoppers will use TV, radio and newspapers to get the message out. Tipsters can call (330) 746-CLUE. No name is required, and a number will be issued for a possible reward.

Centorame said the detective assigned to the unsolved case will present the information for TV and radio.