Crime Stoppers Belize releases Crime Reenactment Video
On Monday September 4, 2004 Crime Stoppers Belize hosted a Press Conference at the Radisson Fort George Hotel. The purpose of the conference was two fold. The media was first updated on the progress of the programme and its initiatives for the coming year. This was followed by the launching of Crime Stoppers Belize Unsolved Crimes reenactment program and the introduction of the first video which featured the murder of Keshia Gordon a young mother who was stabbed to death two years ago in an alley off Princess Margaret Drive.
Tips received through the Crime Stoppers confidential hotline 0-800-922-TIPS (8477) led to the arrest of those responsible for the murders of Antonio Almandarez, the Security Guard in San Pedro and Alexi Golouber, the Russian national, a resident of the King’s Park Area. Crime Stoppers Belize is now depending on the public to provide information that will assist the police to arrest and charge the murderer or murderers of Keshia Gordon.
This telephone hotline is free of charge to the caller; it is answered by professionally trained operators in an Overseas Call Centre, the information is then passed on by a Crime Stoppers Coordinator to the appropriate Belize Law Enforcement Agency. Callers are not asked to give their name or contact number, but are instead given a unique Caller-ID that will subsequently be used by the caller to obtain an update on the success of their tip, and to collect their reward payment of up to a $1,000.00 where one is forthcoming. The reward payment is made anonymously, without the need for the caller to reveal their identity.
July 1 marked the third year of the Crime Stoppers program in Belize. Since then a new board has been installed with continued direction given by Rotarians and members of the media and other NGO organizations, and key contributing individuals.
The programme’s success to date has stemmed from the close relationships that have built with the Police, Media, and most importantly the community. The link with Crime Stoppers International continues to bring support to the program. The Miami Dade Call Center which handles anonymous calls from Belize continues to be a key component in this programme. Crime Stoppers Belize is thankful for all the support the programme has gotten over the past two years from these entities.
Crime Stoppers Belize continues to find new ways to educate Belizeans on the importance of this programme through television, radio, and news paper ads and soon we will be adding our billboard programme to assist in promoting Crime Stoppers Belize country wide.
Crime Stoppers Belize has also successfully launched its website – www.crimestoppersbelize.org or ww.crimestoppersbelize.com. The website features information on the programme, links to the Police website, Latin American Missing Persons website – missing Belizeans, a listing of unsolved crimes and solved crimes, sponsors, and a page for donors to contribute to the program. You are encouraged to view this website.
Programme Statistics:
- Total tips received since inception of programme: 244
- Total successful tips 20
- Tips still under investigation 12
- Over the next year Crime Stoppers Belize aim is to:
- Be more visible in the districts
- Continue to educate citizens on the importance of the programme and how it works to assist in solving Crimes
- Establish a chapter in each district to achieve our outreach program
- Of great significance will be our Unsolved Crimes reenactment videos as our aim is to highlight unsolved crimes and encourage more eye witness participation
- Maintain our close relationship with Law Enforcement Officials, the Media, and the community and Crime Stoppers International
The programme would not be successful without the assistance of our media partners Channel 5 , Channel 7, Krem, Love FM, Wave Radio, FM2000, the Amandala, the Reporter, and the Guardian newspaper, amongst others who have provided air time and print space to make available to the public the various community awareness videos, radio, and print ads.
The dialogue and support of the Police has been helpful in creating the early successes of the programme. Crime Stoppers Belize takes this opportunity to thank Commission of Police Gerald Westby and the Police Department for their unswerving support of the program. Special thanks to Inspector Alden Dawson who invested a lot of his personal time to assist with the making of the first reenactment video of unsolved crime.
Crime Stoppers Belize also expresses its appreciation to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Kirk Anderson for his expert advice in the making of the first reenactment video of unsolved crimes and for his commitment to assist with future projects.
Thanks also to all those who have contributed money or kind to the programme.
Platinum Partners: Caribbean Tobacco Co. Ltd, Builder’s Hardware, Benny’s, Belize Electricity Ltd., Belize Telecommunications Ltd., Belize Bank Ltd., and Lucent Technologies.
Other Sponsors: Belize Tourism Board, Sagicor, Radisson Fort George Hotel, Casa Azul Resort/Rojo Lounge, Mick & Lucy Fleming, Aero Dispatch, O’Ferrel House, Sun Breeze Hotel, Caesar’s Gift Shop & Gallery, Bruno & Melissa Kuppinger, and Xanadu Island Resort,
The path ahead can only be one of success if we all continue to work together – the community, the media, and law enforcement. This can only result in the solving of more crimes and assuring that criminals do not go unpunished.
Crime Stoppers Belize encourages you to promote this important community-based program. Crime Stoppers Belize: 0-800-922-TIPS (8477).
Together, we can win in the Fight Against Crime!
Don’t Support Crime, Report Crime!
Crime Stoppers Belize – September 4, 2006
Article Created on 04/09/2006