Overview

Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing members of the public with a safe and anonymous way of reporting information about criminal activity. Our goal is to positively contribute to the safety and security of the communities of the Waterloo region. We are financed through personal and corporate donations and fundraising initiatives. Crime Stoppers was the brainchild of Canadian-born Greg MacAleese, a Detective with the Albuquerque Police Department in New Mexico. In 1976, Greg had run out of leads in a homicide investigation and out of frustration had appealed to the public for assistance. He went so far as to produce the first crime re-enactment, which aired on local television, and was also made available for radio and the press. Anyone providing information regarding this murder was to be eligible for a cash reward. Within hours of the broadcast, an individual called in valuable information that resulted in the arrest and conviction of two suspects who were sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. The growth has been dramatic, with Crime Stoppers programs implemented in more than 1,200 communities worldwide. In November 1982, Calgary became the first Canadian city to start the program, followed by Hamilton in 1983. Hamilton was the first city in Ontario to implement the Crime Stoppers program.