Crime Stoppers Coordinator Al Sismey delivered a year end report to the regional district board at the March 9 regular board meeting.
Under questioning by Penticton Director Gary Litke, Sismey admitted the Crime Stoppers program was at risk over the possibility of having Crime Stoppers linked to a crime prevention program run by police.
“All of you must understand what the program is all about,” Sismey told the Protective Services Committee, “we are not an arm of the police. We need to stand alone in order to gain the confidence of the public that their tips will truly be anonymous.”
Sismey insisted that any move to have the Crime Stoppers program run “off the corner of a police desk” would be doomed to failure. He went on to add that he hadn’t had sufficient time to explain to Penticton RCMP Superintendent Kevin Hewco how much time his position as Regional Crime Stoppers Coordinator entailed, noting that Hewco felt the position wasn’t a full time job.
Litke noted to date there has been no consultation between the RCMP and the regional district with respect to any changes to the program.The regional district currently funds Sismey’s wages through a budgeted line item in general government in the amount of $65,000.
It was pointed out Superintendent Hewco was also scheduled to make an appearance before the board at an upcoming meeting.
“Much of this discussion is hypothetical since the police have not yet spoken to us about it,” noted one director.
Members of the board tended to agree that Crime Stoppers, which fielded 400 tips last year, should remain an entity at arm’s length from the police. Oliver Director Ron Hovanes suggested a pre-meeting with Superintendent Hewco might be in order, adding that the board respected the work of Crime Stoppers.
RCMP Superintendent Kevin Hewco responded to the controversy on Monday, March 10, telling the Review that he has no intention of jeopardizing the Crime Stoppers program.
“I’ve been conducting a review of operations, and I believe the same dollars can deliver even more services to the regional district, programs such as Block Watch, Citizens on Patrol, and Speed Watch,” he said.
“I’m not talking about changing Crime Stoppers or how it operates with respect to the police. I want to enhance the program.”
Hewco plans to meet with the regional district at next week’s board meeting.
Keremeos currently pays 1.12 per cent of the Crime Stoppers wage costs borne by the regional district, or $730.92, while Area “B” and Area “G” contributes .66 per cent ($429.47) and 1.49 per cent ($969.62) respectively.
In the Keremeos detachment, 10 tips were reported to Crime Stoppers between December 2003 and December 2007, and 17 tips were reported between December 2008 and December 2013.
Crime Stoppers serves the whole regional district. The organization is governed by a board of volunteer directors who meet on a monthly basis to set policy, decide on tip rewards and deal with the operation of the organization.
Sismey’s position as regional coordinator between the program, media and the police is funded soley through the regional district.
The organization itself receives no government funding and needs to raise between $20,000 - $30,000 dollars annually to pay the day to day operating costs, which includes such things as the lease/upkeep on the vehicle, tip answering service, liability insurance, rewards, training for volunteers and a small amount for office supplies, equipment (computers etc) software program, etc.