When Police Chief Richard Pennington arrived in Atlanta in 2002, the city was replete with crime and victimization. In a 2004 report that audited police practices the chief boldly asserted that Atlanta was the most dangerous city in America, and the murder rate had skyrocketed to 520% higher than the national average. From 2000 to 2002, Atlanta was credited with the nation's highest rate of violent crime. The city also had the distinction, for the longest time, of being the only major U. S. city that did not have a Crime Stoppers program.
Crime Stoppers is a crime fighting tool and strategy that engages a collaborative and multimedia approach to crime and obtains information about unsolved crimes through mutual cooperation of the local community, law enforcement, and the media. Initiated in 1976, there are currently 1,200 Crime Stoppers programs in 20 countries. Worldwide, programs utilize tips to assist law enforcement officers in solving various crimes including homicides, sexual assaults, robberies, and many others. The prevention of school shootings and terrorist acts has also been aided by the receipt of tips through these programs.
Individuals who have been victimized by crime are commonly traumatized and remain fearful as a consequence. For those who have lost loved ones in the course of a crime, family members are devastated by the shock that has changed their lives. The grief endures, and they are impacted forever. It is important for both victims and survivors to obtain answers as well as some form of resolution. Their ultimate hope and goal is for an arrest followed by indictment, trial, conviction and punishment of the perpetrators of the crime.
It is not uncommon for individuals who have witnessed crime to be reluctant to report it. They may be apathetic and not want to get involved or they may fear some form of reprisal for their action. As a consequence, people who may have information or possess knowledge about a crime will not report that information which only adds to the lingering impact of crime affecting victims and survivors.
The anonymity factor plays an integral role in bringing closure to cases and resolution for crime victims and their families. "Anonymity is important in a lot of communities, and it is a big part of the success," says Sgt. Rosa Quintana-Green, Director of Crime Stoppers for the Atlanta Police Department.
"Sometimes they need a little nudge. The nudge is this Crime Stoppers program. It's worked tremendously in other cities," says Atlanta Police Chief, Richard Pennington. Pennington, an experienced chief whose expertise in crime reduction efforts was tested and proven during his eight year tenure at the helm of the police department in New Orleans, believed that Atlanta needed to implement the Crime Stoppers program. In coordination with the Atlanta Police Foundation (APF), his proactive approach led to the implementation of the program on January 29, 2007. The APF pulled together resources from businesses and community leaders and adopted the national Crime Stoppers model. Corporate donors and members of the community continue to provide money for the program. Tipsters call a designated phone number and are assigned a special code in lieu of having to provide personal identifying information.
The Atlanta program recently celebrated its one year anniversary and had reason to be proud. In its first year, 31 criminals were arrested including 10 homicide and 11 robbery suspects. Crime Stoppers received 682 tips in its first year and helped clear 64 cases.
"Crime Stoppers works. It provides a perfect avenue for anyone - including those who don't want to be identified - to give us information to help get perpetrators off the streets and bring closure to victims of crime," says Chief Pennington.
"Chief Pennington has been supportive of the program from the beginning and provided full backing of his command staff. Chief Pennington was 100% behind it. He had Crime Stoppers in D. C. and Louisiana as well," says Jennifer Zeunik, Director of Programs for the Atlanta Police Foundation.
Victims and survivors have been positively impacted by the program. When 9-year-old Annijah Rolax was on her computer in her home on July 25 2007, she was hit in the head by a stray bullet as a result of an altercation outside that resulted in her death. Citizens learned of the incident from heavy media coverage and were aware the police were searching for suspects. The Atlanta Police Department and Crime Stoppers Atlanta began their work quickly in attempting to identify and bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. On July 26, 2007, at 5:23 p.m., an anonymous caller dialed the tip line and provided the name of the shooter and his acquaintances. The tip was investigated and officers learned the shooter had an outstanding warrant from Louisiana. Arrests were made on July 27 and July 28, 2007.
"We have a strong partnership with the T.V. channel here, and the case gets on the air. Victims are taking an active role to catch who perpetrated the crime," says Ms. Zeunik. A lot of calls are received from family members who see the story and they want to inquire how they can get their story publicized to catch perpetrators in their own cases.
Edward Nurse, married and a father of five children - three of whom are under six years of age - worked in a convenience store. Two men went to the store and while they were there, Mr. Nurse was shot and killed. Both these men were seen in the store on a surveillance tape and obviously witnessed a homicide. "Both of them will be treated as witnesses," said Atlanta Police Detective J. Danny Stevens. "I know that somebody out there knows the killer," said Beryl Nurse, the mother of the victim. Shortly after the story ran on a T.V. channel, a tip was received by Crime Stoppers Atlanta that proved valuable and, as a result, the suspect was located and arrested.
"The Atlanta Police Foundation brought the Crime Stoppers model to Atlanta to help the community take responsibility for helping to solve crime. Victims and families of victims are provided an opportunity to have their stories heard, and members of the community are able to help solve cases. Crime Stoppers Atlanta sends the message to criminals that this community will not tolerate crime," says W. David Wilkinson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta Police Foundation.
In its first year of existence, the Crime Stoppers program in Atlanta has proven to be a valuable tool in responding to substantial criminal victimization in the city. It has provided a glimmer of hope to those who have been victimized and who desperately need and want answers to crime that has profoundly impacted their lives.
