[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 174 (Friday, November 9, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HOUSTON CRIME STOPPERS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 9, 2007

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, the safety and security of American 
communities is a vital ingredient in the preservation of liberties we 
as a nation hold dear. Nonetheless, individuals occasionally attempt to 
upset our sense of wellbeing. Holding these criminals accountable for 
their actions is thus of the utmost importance. Since 1981, Houston 
Crime Stoppers has tirelessly worked towards keeping our neighborhoods 
protected through helping law enforcement solve numerous cases.
  Imported, from a similar program in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by 
members of the Exchange Club of Houston, the organization quickly grew 
into a world leader, assisting to solve felony offences. The success 
achieved by this group is made possible through the ease of reporting 
information to the Tip Line. As a result of assigning callers with code 
numbers, anonymity is easily maintained, while encouraging informants 
to continue to contact Crime Stoppers. If the information provided 
leads to an arrest, a financial reward is then given to the appropriate 
citizens. From 1981 to 2006 over 6.5 million dollars have been paid in 
cash rewards, a testament towards the large response to Crime Stoppers 
throughout the Houston community.
  Prevention is also a key aspect of Houston Crime Stoppers mission. 
Serving over 200 area middle and high schools, the Safe School Program 
works to educate students and administrators about how to recognize 
dangers. Their focus in particular concerns gang activity, terrorist 
threats, and possession of dangerous weapons. Students can report 
serious crimes to officers, through the anonymous tip line before they 
escalate into perilous situations. These informed campuses are better 
protected as a result, illustrated alone by the 52 gun related arrests 
in just the past decade.
  A similar initiative sponsored by Crime Stoppers is the Safe 
Apartment Program. Like preventative programs in area schools, the 
identifying crime is a major concentration. Complex managers and staff 
are taught how to recognize and report criminal activity. Residents 
also can inform officers of offenders in their community, through the 
Tip Line. This has proven to effectively reduce crime, making the 
affected neighborhoods increasingly safer.
  Operating in partnership with citizens, media, law enforcement, and 
the criminal justice system, Houston Crime Stoppers is now the number 
one community based organization dedicated to deciphering and 
preventing serious crime. Since their 1981 inception, 26,593 cases have 
been closed as a result of these dedicated citizens. Of these many 
servings of justice, they solved 817 homicides, 832 murders, and 
apprehended 8917 felony fugitives. Still, these statistics make up only 
a portion of the many other transgressions resolved as a result of 
Houston Crime Stoppers.
  And that's just the way it is.

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