Mat-Su Crime Stoppers

Mat-Su CrimeStoppers, Inc., is a non-profit charitable organization recognized under the IRC Section 501(c)(3). All contributions qualify for deduction as a charitable contribution on your income tax return pursuant to IRC Section 170.

Annual Membership $25.00

How the program works

Put simply, it is a three-part approach to solving the crime problem. It relies on cooperation between the police, the media, and the general community to provide a flow of information about crime and criminals.

Mat-Su CrimeStoppers select a Crime of the Week, which is published in the local newspapers as well as radio and television.

Calls are received at a local CrimeStoppers telephone. The police CrimeStoppers liaison receives the information then evaluates it, makes initial inquiries, and then passes all information on to the investigating officer. No information regarding the identity of the caller is given to the investigating officer.

Because the caller is not required to give their name, CrimeStoppers allows the caller to give information in a positive atmosphere without the prospect of retribution. By offering cash rewards for information leading to arrests, the program encourages otherwise reluctant callers to volunteer information. Callers may be eligible for rewards of up to $1000.

Other community benefits are:

A greater awareness in the community that there is a crime problem.
A willingness by the community to fight back against crime if it is given the opportunity.
Improved relationships between the community, law enforcement officials, and the media.

The public, through its overwhelming response, has accepted CrimeStoppers as a more palatable alternative to traditional methods of giving information.

Structure and Funding for CrimeStoppers

Mat-Su CrimeStoppers, Inc. is a non-profit charitable organization. A Board of Directors provides direction as the financial and promotional activities of the program. The Board of Directors enhances the community involvement aspect, which is vital to the program’s success. The CrimeStoppers program is funded by private donations from concerned citizens and businesses as well as fund raising. No tax dollars are involved. The Board of Directors, made up of private citizens from the Mat-Su Borough, meets on a monthly basis to evaluate arrests and determine the size of rewards. Rewards are then distributed in a confidential manner to the callers.