Crime Stoppers History:

The idea began in 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A young man was working at a filling station one night when two robbers came in and murdered the attendant during the robbery. After six weeks of investigations the police had made little headway and turned to the media for assistance.

With help from the local media police received the information they needed and within a short period of time the two killers were arrested for the murder.

Soon after that the Albuquerque Police Department started the first “Crime Stoppers” program in the nation. Within a short time the Phoenix Police Department started their own program and called it "Phoenix Silent Witness." Today there are over 1,100 Crime Stoppers/Silent Witness programs around the world thanks to Albuquerque New Mexico Police Department.

Yavapai Silent Witness History:

Created in 1981 by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO), just five years after the Albuquerque program, Yavapai Silent Witness (YSW) has come to play a very important role in fighting crime and criminal apprehension in Yavapai County. The names are different, but the concept is exactly the same.

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office managed the program for the first 3 years and then in 1984 turned it over to the Prescott Police Department where it remained for the next 24 years. In February 2008 Yavapai County Sheriff, Steve Waugh, asked for the program back stating that the program would better serve the residnets of Yavapai County if the program was managed at the YCSO. Today employees of the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office  answer the toll free (1-800) phone line 24 hours a day and a full time YCSO employee acts as the Program Director. The program relies on the public calling with information concerning criminal activity. The media assist by advertising unsolved crimes and wanted felons and the law enforcement agencies in Yavapai County investigate the calls. The program is a success due to these three (3) entities.

Public Speaking:

If you would like someone from the program to speak to your group just call 777-7266 Monday through Thursday.

Remember:

Remember, that you never have to give your name and if your information leads to an arrest you will always be offered a cash reward. Callers must call Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232 to report their information before they can receive a reward.