Crime Stoppers hailed for aiding BPS efforts
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/01/2025 (245 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The success and effectiveness of a community program aimed at assisting policing efforts in Brandon to curb illegal drug use and thefts was recognized at a luncheon held on Wednesday.
Brandon Police Service (BPS) Chief Tyler Bates told a packed hall at the Victoria Inn that Brandon Crime Stoppers (BCS) provided 394 information tips to law enforcement last year, which led to 120 cases being solved and 46 individuals being arrested.
The community organization’s collaboration with BPS also resulted in the successful seizure of $182,165 worth of illegal drugs and stolen properties in 2024. These figures were shared at the annual BCS luncheon, attended by law enforcement and city officials, including many of the organization’s partners and fundraising sponsors.
Guests attend a luncheon hosted by Brandon Crime Stoppers at the Victoria Inn on Wednesday. The organization works closely with the Brandon Police Service, sponsors and members of the public to aid policing efforts in Brandon. The luncheon’s attendees included law enforcement and city officials, including many of the organization’s partners and fundraising sponsors. (David P. Stein/The Brandon Sun)
“The Brandon Crime Stoppers program brings great value to our police service and the community. The contributions that it makes to public safety, justice and crime prevention are undeniable. The effectiveness of this program has been recognized regionally and provincially, and it’s a model of collaboration,” Bates said.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the collective efforts of the Crime Stoppers, volunteers, of the support from media, police and the public in aligning to provide service to community, to solve and disrupt and prevent crime, the citizens of Brandon are the beneficiaries of your efforts, and I thank you for your contributions to community safety,” he added, before highlighting specific cases in which BCS helped police solve crimes this past year, including one that involved the sexual assault of a minor.
“In September 2024, BPS received a tip regarding photos of child pornography linked to a media platform of a Brandon male. The victim depicted in the images was under the age of eight years of age. Brandon Police Service, major crime services, with the assistance of Crime Stoppers collaborating their efforts, led to the arrest of a Brandon male. He was charged with accessing pornography, possession of child pornography and sexual assault,” Bates pointed out.
He also cited a case where a Brandon business was illegally selling tobacco, and profiting from this legal violation. Bates, however emphasized that the resolution of this crime was due to a collaboration between BPS, the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS), Manitoba’s finance and taxation special investigations unit, and tips provided by the public to BCS.
“We subsequently executed a number of search warrants at a business and local associated residences. As a result of this information, $19,000 in cash, 12 cases and 45 cartons of illegal tobacco were seized, with the estimated street value for the product (estimated) over $100,000,” said Bates.
BCS chair Rick Thompson, and co-ordinator Trevor Robins both thanked members of the community, BPS, and its partners for the work accomplished last year.
Thompson acknowledged the founder of BCS — Det. Greg MacAleese — who envisioned a program where community members could assist the police in an effort to solve crimes. It began when MacAleese sought the help of residents of Albuquerque, N.M., to solve an unsolved murder.
“Detective Greg MacAleese’s vision of using the public worked, and it has worked, and it still works today. The public has more eyes. They’re in more places. Not to say that BPS isn’t around all the time as well. But it doesn’t hurt to have a bunch more eyes on what goes on in your community,” Thompson said.
MacAleese’s dedicated belief that such a collaboration would promote public safety and benefit unresolved investigations led to the creation of Crime Stoppers in 1985. The organization will celebrate its 40th anniversary this coming July. However, one of the biggest misconceptions about BCS is that it is a police program. It is a community initiative run by volunteers and concerned residents.
“It’s important to note, this isn’t a police program. It’s a community program. A lot of people believe that Crime Stoppers is a police program. It’s a community program,” Robins said.
“We are a non-profit board. Funding comes from fundraising like the Bail-A-Thon and our sponsors, who we couldn’t do without. And of course, criminal property forfeiture throws in a bit of cash every once in a while too, and we appreciate that our board is one of 1700 boards in the world,” Robins added.
In 2024 alone, BCS authorized $2,250 for rewards to individuals who provided information leading to the solving of crimes in Brandon. Since 1985, the community organization has paid $186,290 in rewards to tip providers who assisted BPS with unsolved crimes.
BCS can be contacted at 204-727-8477, www.brandoncrimestoppers.com, or by texting BCSTIP+your message to 274637 if you have any information that would help local law enforcement in their investigative efforts.
» X: @davidpstein_