Troopers, when starting their shifts, have to radio in to Central Dispatch advising them they are in service. Over the last 20 years, I have heard several different “check ins” as they are called.
“Hello, Central, I’m ready to make a difference.”
“Checking in, Central, ready to rock ’n’ roll.”
My favorite is, “Central, this is 1249, please return your seats to the upright position, make sure your tables are locked and your seabelts are on … we are about to take off.”
Another good check in was, “Central, I’m ready to take a nice tasty bite out of crime.”
The last one made me think about how we can all help take a bite out of crime. Crime Stoppers of Michigan partners with law enforcement in eight counties in southeast Michigan by giving citizens who want to remain anonymous a venue for reporting crime. The eight counties include Genesee, Livingston, Oakland, Monroe, Macomb, St. Claire, Washtenaw and Wayne. In 2014, Crime Stoppers of Michigan, processed approximately 7,000 tips resulting in 187 law enforcement successes.
Crime Stoppers in 2015 have already assisted law enforcement with 164 successful tips in just the first six months. Citizens can submit a Crime Stoppers tip by calling 800-SPEAKUP, a tip online at www.1800speakup.org or you can also text a tip to 274637. Once the tip is received by Crime Stoppers, it is forwarded to the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the criminal act. After the investigation is completed, the law enforcement agency confirms the tip assisted in the arrest of the individual and the tipster becomes eligible for a reward. The rewards range from $2,500 for homicides, hit and run (resulting in a fatality) and missing endangered people, and up to $1,000 for other crimes. Tips called into 800-SPEAKUP, that are outside the service area, are forwarded to the Crime Stoppers organization that has the jurisdiction.
Crimes Stoppers provides other services such as door hangers, which highlight photos and information about crimes. Cases are posted on the Crime Stoppers website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and sent to area media.
Other Crime Stoppers programs include Project Safe Campus, Project Good Samaritan and the Crimes Stoppers Prison Program.
Project Safe Campus empowers the student body to monitor criminal activity within their school. Project Good Samaritan is a faith-based program utilizing churches to spread the Crime Stoppers mission. The prison program offers a special tip line for prisoners to anonymously submit tips by routing around the monitored phone system. There are several ways for people to help out and remember any information you provide is anonymous.
Well, untill next time, this is 1249 telling you all to, “Take a nice tasty bite out of crime.”
If you have questions or comments, email them to askatrooper12@gmail.com, or mail them to Ask A Trooper, Michigan State Police — Brighton Post, 4337 Buno Road, Brighton, MI 48116.
This article was originally posted on 9:03 a.m. EDT October 11, 2015 by Livingston Daily.