Crime Stoppers of Greater Cincinnati 2017 Annual Report

Serving Southwest Ohio,

Southeast Indiana, and Northern Kentucky

Call (513) 352-3040

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Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers

Annual Report 2017

Board Officers Gene Ferrara

President

Mark Fischer Treasurer

Michael C. Snowden Past Chairperson

Gene Bishop Vice-President

Larry Arszman Secretary

Chuck Kreimer Director

Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers PO Box 14330

Cincinnati, OH 45250-0530 513-352-3040

Document Prepared by Michele Peers (Writers Block) 859-468-1310 writersblock21@gmail.com

Material in this report provided by: Specialist Lesa Baker, Cincinnati Police; Mark Fischer, Treasurer; and other GCCS members

A Note from the Chair The Board of Trustees of Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers is pleased to present our 2017 Annual Report. As with our past reports, we believe the effectiveness of the crime stopper concept is only partially shown in the numbers. The rest of the effectiveness comes through the cooperation of the police, media, and Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers. This cooperation has stood the test of time and continues to strengthen each year.

We also could not exist without the work of the volunteers in Crime Stoppers. Their continued dedication to and service for Crime Stoppers creates the fund raising activities and the ideas that help us move forward. Our fund raising efforts this year achieved an operating budget of about $100,000. We are very pleased to be able to say that because of the tremendous volunteer effort 90% of our donations are used for tipster rewards. This year that $90,000 investment allowed the police to recover over $300,000 worth of narcotics and property.

In 2017, Crime Stoppers received 3,147 tips. These tips led to the arrest of 189 people: 85 of these people were involved with narcotics, 18 of them were murderers, 8 were aggravated/assault and robbers, and 13 burglars. Thus, the tips we received led to the solving of 397 cases. The tips led to the recovery of $323,847 worth of narcotics and property. The complete list of stats is in this report.

This year Mark Fischer and Larry Arszman are retiring from a strong 18 year dedication to their roles as Treasurer and Secretary for Crime Stoppers. I cannot say enough about how the work Mark and Larry have done has supported and enabled Crime Stoppers. Additionally, both Larry and Mark have become my friends and friends with many of the members of Crime Stoppers. They have done their jobs well, in fact, above and beyond the call of duty. They have donated countless hours on the organization's behalf. They will be sorely missed as officers, but thankfully remain our friends.

We are pleased to welcome a new Treasurer, Ronnise Handy and a new Secretary, Barbara Harper. While they will have very big shoes to fill, we believe they are up to the job.

Sincerely,

Gene Ferrara, Chairperson Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers

We have served the Greater Cincinnati area since 1981.

Clearing Up Confusions

One of the common misperceptions the public has is that Crime Stoppers is funded by some government agency. It is not and truthfully cannot be funded by any agency. The money we use to pay for tips is raised through charitable gifts and fund raising activities. We are always accepting donations, and are grateful for them.

In order to be absolutely fair, remove emotionality, and make our funds go farther Crime Stoppers and the law enforcement agencies have established a fixed matrix for the amount paid for tips for each type of crime.

Occasionally, a crime will be so distressing that members of the public want to increase the amount of the reward offered. We have policies in place to handle these increased rewards.

1) We will not advertise any increased reward until we have been given the money. It doesnot matter if the outside donor source is family, businesses, or the victim’s fellowworkers, we cannot advertise what we do not have.

2) We will not increase the actual money we give a tipster beyond $2,500. If someonewants to give the tipster more than $2,500, we do not take the extra money. We willgive the tipster information on where to collect the rest of any expanded reward thatexceeds $2,500. This rule is a safety measure.

3) Money given for a specific reward is not refundable. The money will be kept in the bankuntil a tip is received. It may be a long time before the tip is received

The research shows that the size of the reward is not what motivates tipsters. In fact, when the reward reaches very large sums many false leads are submitted. The police have to trace down each of these false leads wasting a great deal of time and taxpayer dollars.

Two types of people call in tips. Those calling because of the money and those calling due to other motivation.

Good citizens with genuine concern for helping to solve a crime do call in tips. They may never follow-up or attempt to collect the tip money. Angry people, such as friends, family, significant others, and neighbors, call in tips. These angry people may be, and probably are upright citizens, but they cannot afford any of the other people in this group to know who sent in the tip. Their anger is their motivation, not the money. They may or may not collect the tip reward.

The second group calling in tips is focused on people who want the money. Drug addicts needing money call in tips. Other criminals call in tips. Their own issues do not invalidate the value and correctness of the tips. These two groups cannot be seen with large amounts of cash. The money would give away their identity.

Events

In 2017, Crime Stoppers found support from several of the same people and events whichhave supported us in the past. We want to acknowledge how grateful we are for their continued support. Without their continued help we would not be able to be as effective as we are.

We have tried to list the people and companies that have stood with and supported us but we know we are missing some. We apologize for the omission.

This list is in no specific order: Walgreens Kroger United Dairy Farmers Furniture Fair Shred-it WCPO broadcasts Crime Stoppers information, and publicizes our shred events Additionally, ALL the media that broadcast or

print Crime Stoppers information form an incredibly important part of our information network. Without all of this media help we could not effectively do our job. Brooks Flooring Greater Cincinnati Insurance Association

The law enforcement units in the counties we serve (including the US Marshals for this area) Several anonymous donors

In 2017, the people listed on the left helped

create and organize the following fund raisers:

two shredding (and drug take back) events,

a golf outing,

a fish fry,

a motorcycle rally,

and an awards breakfast.

The Awards Breakfast is our opportunity to recognize and give awards to people in law enforcement and the community who have done outstanding work to bring criminals to justice and make our community safer. We truly enjoy giving these awards and want you the business and civic leaders to nominate those people you feel deserve an award.

Hamilton

• Tipster provided information that led to the identification of the suspects accusedof setting fire in December 2015 to the Hamilton residence where Firefighter PatrickWolterman died when he went into the house to check for victims, and fell through thefirst floor. Lester Parker and William Tucker were charged with Arson and Murder

Middletown

• Tipster provided a web tip that a vacant property in the Middletown area was beingused for drug dealers, users and prostitution. Middletown Police conducted surveillanceand search warrants on the property that resulted in felony arrests and pending Federalcharges. Samantha Stevens was arrested on a felony warrant out of Butler County andWilliam Wofford Jr. was charged with Criminal Trespass, and Drug Trafficking.

Lester Parker William Tucker

Forest Park

• Tipster’s information led to the Identification and Arrest of co-Defendants Cornell Phillips Jr.,Anquan Williams and Dontay Johnson, charged by Forest Park Police with Aggravated Burglary andKidnapping. Arrested are accused in a September home invasion where the victim’s infant waskidnapped and held for ransom. Police pursued a suspected vehicle and the child was recovered.The suspects however got away.... at least until the tipsters gave us information.

Cincinnati and Boone County

• Tipster provided information that led to the arrest of Eddie Savage wanted for the AggravatedRobbery of three Businesses in Cincinnati and in Boone County. Eddie Savage is also the suspect inthree other robberies from other agencies. A handgun was used in all the offenses

Eddie Savage

Ault Park Cincinnati

• Jacob Weiss is behind bars after police said he robbed five people at gunpoint in Ault Parkover a 10-day period. Jacob Weiss, 25, has been charged with three counts of AggravatedRobbery and two counts of Robbery. Cash, Cellphones and car keys were taken in these offenses.A tipster who had purchased one of the stolen phones contacted police and returned to the phoneto the victim. The tipster provided critical information that led to the identification of the suspectwho has confessed to all five Robberies

Social media makes turning in a tip easy. Call, text, or tweet.513-352-3040

Crime Stoppers Statistics for 2017 and for the life ofthe Greater Cincinnati Crime Stoppers Organization

PS 119

2017 Feb-81 to Date

CODE NUMBERS ISSUED: 3,147 88,573

CASES SOLVED: 397 16,609Homicide 18 553Felonious/Aggravated Assault 28 1,098Kidnapping/Abduction 3 166Assault (since 2003) 88

Rape 244Domestic Violence 7 415Aggravated Robbery 47 1,321Robbery 16 457Bank Robbery (since 2003) 10 136

Theft 47 1,163Auto Theft 1 272Receiving Stolen Property 12 690Aggravated Burglary (since 2003) 8 124Burglary 13 932Breaking & Entering 8 484Narcotics 85 3,417Vice 418

Forgery/Fraud 1,142

Arson 1 101

Traffic (since 2003) 408

Parole Violation/Other Felony 10 2,381

Probation Violation 41 3,550Sexual Based Offense Adult (Since 2/07) 4 38Sexual Based Offense Juvenile (Since

2/07)8

Improper Discharge of Firearm 1 1

GUNS (since 2003):

Involved 62 662

Recovered 2 406

PERSONS ARRESTED: 183 12,648Wheel Of Justice Arrests:(6/11) 4 12PROPERTY/NARCOTICS RECOVERED: 323,847 26,644,682