Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS CRIME STOPPERS?

Crime Stoppers is a program that involves the public, the media, and the police in the fight against crime.  It offers cash rewards to persons who furnish information that leads to the arrest and filing of criminal charges against offenders and to the capture of felony fugitives.

A volunteer Board of Directors from throughout the Quad City area governs Crime Stoppers.  The Board decides on cash rewards and raises funds for the program.  Funds are raised through private donations, from civic organizations, businesses, and through fundraising events.

HISTORY OF CRIME STOPPERS

Crime Stoppers began in September 1976 by a New Mexico detective, Greg MacAleese, while trying to solve the murder of a young gas station attendant in Albuquerque. MacAleese arranged with a local television station to broadcast a reenactment of the killing and offered a reward to anyone who would call anonymously with information. As a result of that appeal, MacAleese had enough evidence in 48 hours to arrest two suspects.

The Albuquerque Police Department continued to appeal for help in other unsolved cases and soon formed the first Crime Stoppers program.  Crime Stoppers is well established in the United States and throughout the world and is supported by the organization known as Crime Stoppers International, of which Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities is a member.  Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities began as Moline Crime Stoppers in March 1982. It was later expanded to include all of Rock Island County.  In 1992, the program expanded even further, and now services both Rock Island County in Illinois and Scott County in Iowa.

HOW DOES CRIME STOPPERS WORK?

When a caller calls the tip line (309) 762-9500, concerning a felony crime, the caller does not give their name, but receives a confidential code number.  The information is passed on to the appropriate law enforcement agency.  If the caller’s information leads to a felony arrest, the caller receives a cash reward of up to $1,000.  The Crime Stoppers Board meets once a month to decide these cash rewards.  The caller contacts Crime Stoppers with their code number for instructions on how to collect their cash reward.

For more information about Crime Stoppers, visit their website at www.qccrimestoppers.com.