January 13, 2004
NEWS RELEASE

Somerset County's New Crime Stoppers Program

Somerville, NJ - Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest has announced that a new program has been established to assist law enforcement throughout Somerset County in solving and deterring crime. This new, non-profit Corporation is called, "Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, Inc." Its Chairman of the Board of Directors is Douglas W. Kimmelman of Bernardsville.

The Crime Stoppers program first began in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It began as a tripartite coalition between law enforcement, the community and the media, to raise monies and offer and publicize rewards to assist in solving crimes. Today, there are over 1,000 Crime Stoppers programs in the United States and around the world which have attained a great track record of success. More than one million cases have been cleared, more than a half a million arrests, approximately $6 billion of stolen property and narcotics have been recovered, and a 95% conviction rate has been achieved with Crime Stoppers' tips.

Prosecutor Forrest, in expressing his enthusiasm for the program, noted "the incremental awareness and incentive that this program will provide in our communities will greatly enhance law enforcement's ability to successfully execute our mission of providing a safe and crime free environment for all of the counties' citizens."

Crime Stoppers will be governed by an independent Board of Directors who are volunteers from our communities and who will be responsible for establishing the policies of the organization, fundraising, determining the amount of rewards and working closely with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, our municipal police departments and the media.

The media will be solicited to publicize rewards as well as information to contact
law enforcement. Law enforcement will provide the means by which the community can provide crime solving tips. Presently the Prosecutor's Office offers the public a toll-free telephone TIPS line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). When a citizen calls this number, they may elect to simply either anonymously leave a voice-mail message containing their tip, leave a message requesting that a detective contact them directly, or immediately speak with a detective or a County "911" Communications Operator. There will always be an immediate response to all telephone TIPS line messages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In addition to the telephonic TIPS line system, the Prosecutor's Office also offers an online TIPS line. Any citizen who has access to the Internet can simply log onto the Prosecutor's Office website at "www.scpo.net" and click on the link for either "Crime Stoppers" or "TIPS Hotline" and then type in the relevant tip information. Now with our new Somerset County Crime Stoppers program, when a citizen provides a tip on a crime where a reward has been posted, they will be assigned a confidential code number. The person providing the information will remain anonymous and in any future communications they will only be identified utilizing their confidential code number. At no time will anyone from Crime Stoppers or law enforcement ever ask them their name.

Once a person becomes eligible for a reward, such as after the arrest and indictment of a defendant, the arrest and return to custody of a wanted fugitive or the seizure of contraband or recovery of property, arrangements to receive the reward are made utilizing only the individual's confidential code number. The reward will be paid in cash by Crime Stoppers which will be funded by contributions, not tax dollars.

Law enforcement will have active involvement with the program on a local level. The Somerset County Chiefs of Police Association has been instrumental in the formation of the county-wide Crime Stoppers effort and has agreed to work closely with the Board to promote and implement the program across the 21 towns and municipalities in the county. "We look forward to having a new and powerful tool at our disposal to assist in our crime solving efforts and are appreciative of the funding support for initiatives that we may pursue to enhance the County's law enforcement efforts" added Chief Kevin Valentine of the Somerset County Chief's Association.
The Board of Directors of the Crime Stoppers of Somerset County (list of 13 initial members attached) has determined its organization's purposes as set forth in their Mission Statement (also attached). Chairman Kimmelman commented that "the formation of the Crime Stoppers effort in our county would not have come together without the vision and dedication of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office and the County Chief's Association - they made it clear as to the enormous benefit that such an organization could provide to the community".

He further added, "Crime Stoppers of Somerset County will be unique in our mission and our accomplishments. We will provide funds to help solve some of the more difficult and disturbing crimes that have occurred in the county. We will initiate programs to help in the seizure of stolen property, narcotics and illegal firearms and weapons. We will enhance the quality of law enforcement in our county through the funding of scholarship and training initiatives, the purchasing of sophisticated crime solving lab equipment and the general funding of innovative programs and initiatives developed by law enforcement throughout the county."

"In our less than one month since formation, we have raised over $50,000 and are confident in our ability to make a meaningful positive impact in our county." Chairman Kimmelman concluded, "crime does not pay, but we do."

If you have information that could assist the police or Prosecutor in solving a case, apprehending a criminal, recovering contraband or stolen property, please call 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or log onto www.scpo.net and click on either "Crime Stoppers" or "TIPS Hotline".

For more information about Crime Stoppers, log onto the Crime Stoppers International website at "www.c-s-i.org".