CRIME STOPPERS COMES TO HARTFORD
Hartford Crime Stoppers Inc. the newest chapter of renowned national crime prevention group
A group of prominent city officials, led by Mayor Eddie A. Perez and Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts, today praised the formation of Hartford Crime Stoppers Inc. in the state’s capital. The new Hartford chapter of this national community based organization will kick off its mission to help reduce crime and foster better relations between residents and law enforcement officials on August 5th, 2008.
Crime Stoppers is a national organization, founded in 1976, with an extensive track record of assisting police departments in the apprehension of suspects by offering cash rewards for anonymous information that leads to an arrest. It has more than 300 chapters throughout the country, including Waterbury, where it has been successful for more than 25 years.
Hartford Crime Stoppers Inc. will officially kick off its operation in Hartford on August 5th. That date was chosen because it coincides with the National Night Out, a nationwide program to increase crime prevention and awareness and to generate support for anti-crime programs.
Hartford Crime Stoppers has set up a Tip Line at 722-TIPS (8477) for residents to call anonymously. Tips which lead to arrests will be rewarded.
Mayor Perez says, “Hartford Crime Stoppers provides another critical public safety tool that will help build stronger and more vibrant neighborhoods. This community-based initiative will help reduce fear and will help foster a greater sense of community of neighbors helping neighbors. I wish to thank the business community for their investment in this program because Hartford truly is a caring and compassionate city.”
“We are very excited to get Hartford Crime Stoppers up and running in Hartford. This represents a true partnership between the Hartford Police Department, the business community, and the residents of the city,” Julio Concepcion, vice president of Hartford Partnerships for the MetroHartford Alliance and chairman of Hartford Crime Stoppers Inc., said today. “Crime Stoppers has a national reputation for providing a tremendous amount of help to cities, and we look forward to doing great work in Hartford.”
Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts said, “I welcome Crime Stoppers in Hartford. Crime Stoppers is a program I have long believed to be a very effective crime solving tool for both the community and police. The Hartford Police Department embraces this new avenue of communication between the police and the community we serve.”
Hartford Crime Stoppers Inc. – made possible by a generous $10,000 grant from the Patricelli Family Foundation - will seek to enable residents to stand up for their city and their neighborhoods by giving them a financial incentive to report crimes they see taking place. Crime Stoppers’ efforts nationally have led to many positive results, including lower crime rates and better relationships between police officers and residents.
"We are happy the Patricelli Family Foundation was able to provide the funds to kick this project off quickly in partnership with the City and others in the private sector. Now it`s important for Hartford residents themselves to get behind it and make it work by making the phone ring with the information the police need on criminal activity,” said Robert Patricelli.
The launching of Hartford Crime Stoppers on Tuesday to coincide with the National Night Out is being done in an effort to get city residents and neighborhoods to rally together, celebrate the great things about Hartford, and to work as one toward the overall betterment of the city by fostering better relations between law enforcement officials and the people they protect. The National Night Out will also feature the presence of a number of Hartford-area businesses and organizations that are offering their support.
For more information on the National Night Out, people are asked to call Hartford Areas Rally Together (HART) at 525-3449 or go to the national website at www.nationaltownwatch.com. | 
