Sheriff’s Office Launches Crime Stoppers
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
HOUSTON COUNTY – Houston County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) recently announced the relaunch of the Crime Stoppers program in Houston County. The program allows the public to anonymously report tips to law enforcement and is credited each year with helping to solve thousands of crimes nationwide.
HCSO has become part of Deep East Texas Crime Stoppers, Inc., a non-profit organization which accepts tips by phone, through their website, or through a smartphone app. The Lufkin-based organization serves Angelina, Tyler, San Augustine, and Houston County.
According to the group, “Anonymity is not Crime Stoppers’ promise, it is the law. In Texas, a person, including a law enforcement officer, may commit a crime if the person intentionally or knowingly divulges the identity of a Crime Stoppers’ Tipster. Crime Stoppers needs the information you have regarding crimes and criminals, not your name. To further ensure a tipster’s identity is never known, CRIME STOPPERS PAYS REWARDS ONLY FOR ANONYMOUS TIPS; tipsters who identify themselves are not eligible for payment.”
Houston County Sheriff Zak Benge said it is another way to keep law enforcement and the public working together, safely.
“The Crime Stoppers program is another way for our citizens to be involved in what our office does and is a much easier way for concerned citizens to report illegal activity,” Benge posted in an online statement. “We are proud to have this program up and running again and hope that it helps our citizens help us with illegal activity.”
The program already bore fruit, as tipsters were able to identify a man allegedly involved in the recent robbery of a store in Latexo. After the photo was posted online, tipster were able to identify him as Kenneth Keenan, wanted in South Carolina for larceny and has felony warrants from Jasper PD for Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity.
If you would like to participate in the Crime Stoppers program, call 936-639-TIPS, visit their website at www.639tips.com or download the app called P3 Tips.
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
