Crime Doesn't Pay. We Do.

November 23, 2021

In the summer of 1976, Albuquerque Police Detective Greg MacAleese was assigned the case of Michael Carmen, a local college student that was robbed and shot to death while working at a gas station. Months after the murder, Detective MacAleese and his colleagues still had no leads on a possible suspect. He knew that someone had information that could help solve the crime, but in order to get a lead, they needed an innovative program that would help gather tips. Thus, Crime Stoppers was born on September 8, 1976 in partnership with the local community, media, and law enforcement.

Following the creation of the program, Detective MacAleese produced a video re-enactment of the homicide, guaranteed anonymity, and personally financed a reward to encourage the public to provide information. After the video aired on a local TV station, MacAleese received a tip from a caller that led to the arrest of two suspects within 72 hours. Both were charged with the murder of Michael Carmen along with a string of armed robberies.

Today, Crime Stoppers is worldwide with coordinators all over the United States, Canada, Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and the South/Western Pacific. The Crime Stoppers Coordinator for Pinellas County is Jamie Smith, who is assigned within the Public Relations Bureau of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. “Having worked in law enforcement for 25 years, I see the benefit of being a liaison between those with information about a crime and law enforcement. The fact that the community can submit tips, remain anonymous, and be rewarded if the tip leads to an arrest is pretty significant in helping law enforcement with their investigations,” Smith said.

More than 40 years later, Crime Stoppers is still dependent upon the cooperation of local law enforcement agencies, the media, and the community to provide information to help solve cases. Currently, tips can be submitted by calling the tip line or online. Tips are vetted and sent to the appropriate law enforcement jurisdiction. Throughout the process, Crime Stoppers continues to work closely with local law enforcement agencies to determine if a tip led to an arrest or if it was unfounded. If a tip leads to an arrest, the tipster is eligible to claim their reward by providing their unique tip number and password provided following the initial submission of the tip.

“Knowing that a bad guy is taken off the street based on an anonymous tip is the most rewarding part of my job,” Smith said. “Another, is being able to be a small piece of the puzzle in one of the most important parts of an investigation, which is gathering tips and potential leads.” To date, tips through Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County have led to over 1,100 arrests and more than $300,000 in rewards.

If you have information pertaining to a crime, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or submit a tip online.

PCSO Wows At Teach-In

Every year, the Great American Teach-In exposes students to a variety of career opportunities that go far beyond the school curriculum. Last Wednesday was no exception as members from all over the agency visited more than 40 schools throughout the county and beyond. From members working within the jail to forensic science specialists and from community policing deputies to our four-legged deputies – students learned a lot about law enforcement and our agency.

Online Shopping Safety

Reputable companies have several layers of protection for their shoppers. If you’re hesitant about a new site verify that the site is legitimate.

Double check the spelling and URL.

Verify that there is a lock on the address bar ensuring that the site is safe.

Scammers will impersonate trusted companies. If the “company” contacts you to verify your order or account, be cautious about what personal information you provide.

Use a single payment method for your holiday shopping. It’s hard to track fraudulent activity, but when you reduce the number of payment methods used to purchase gifts, any fraudulent activity will be easier to monitor and report.

Unattended packages are porch pirate magnets. Keep your purchases safe, by having packages sent to a locker or list the delivery address to a family or friends house who occupies their residence a majority of the day.

Remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Job Feature: Chaplain – P/T

Under the supervision of the Senior Chaplain, the main focus of this position is to provide spiritual guidance and ministry to inmates at the county jail through counseling, services, and support. The position assists the Senior Chaplain with various projects, training, and provision of community services, as they relate to inmates. Work is reviewed through observation and results obtained. To learn more and apply, click here.