Another tool on the belt.

That’s how Hamilton County Sheriff Doug Timmons describes the value of Hamilton County Crime Stoppers.

“Crime Stoppers is a tool that we can use to help solve crimes,” Timmons says. “Citizens … are our eyes and ears. They can be our help to solve the case.”

And those citizens, he said, are key to the success of Crime Stoppers.

The blueprint for Crime Stoppers here has its roots in an “ah-ha” moment in New Mexico. Then-Albuquerque Det. Greg MacAleese gets the credit. Frustrated that police couldn’t solve the murder of a young college student who was working a night shift at a gas station, he had a hunch someone out there knew something.

“He put up a reward of $1,000 from his own pocket to encourage someone to provide information leading to the arrest of the killers,” Hamilton County Crime Stoppers says in its promotional materials. “Within 72 hours, a person called in identifying a car leaving the scene at high speed. The person calling said that he did not want to get involved so he had not called earlier.”

It was in that moment that MacAleese realized fear and apathy are primary reasons that people were not sharing information about crimes.

That was in 1976.

Today, the vigilance of everyday people helps Timmons and his colleagues solve the cases that might never be solved.

And though the cases pursued in Hamilton County are rarely as grim as the one that led to the birth of the program, the local Crime Stoppers’ role is no less crucial.

Crime Stoppers in Hamilton County

Hamilton County Crime Stoppers was formed in 2011.

“Kathy Getting spearheaded a task force of concerned citizens in partnership with local law enforcement,” according to a local Crime Stoppers history. “The program was initially funded thanks to a grant from Enhanced Hamilton County Foundation and also money from Power Up Youth (a Hamilton County coalition).”

It received its 501(c)3 status in 2012. That means all donations to Crime Stoppers are tax deductible.

Hamilton County Crime Stoppers is responsible for funding an anonymous tip line, which is currently sponsored by Jerry Goebel of State Farm Insurance. Every two months, it publishes its “Most Wanted” poster of people identified by law enforcement. That is created by the sheriff’s office, published online and shared via social media.

Volunteers maintain a Facebook page and website, and have placed signage in

county parks and public spaces.

Crime Stoppers rely on volunteers. They are nonprofit organizations led by citizens. Their goal is to reduce and solve crimes.

The nonprofits find success by working in partnership with communities, the media, and law enforcement.

One of the ways Crime Stoppers does this is by publishing its “Most Wanted” and offering rewards.

That’s where financial support is important. As a nonprofit, Hamilton County Crime Stoppers relies on donations to support those rewards.

In 2024, the projected budget totals $3,854.

That breaks down to an estimated $1,000 for rewards, $1,236 for the P3 tip line cost, and $1,200 for any special advertising.

“Since 2011 the work of Hamilton County Crimestoppers has resulted in the arrest of 160 individuals, and we have paid out $8,650 in rewards,” Crime Stoppers says in its promotional material. “Our anonymous Tip Lines have logged 2,134 Tips and 7,012 Follow Up Tips.”

Yes, rarely is Hamilton County attempting to solve a homicide. But $100, $200 and even $500 rewards add up, so the need is there and their results matter.

“We had a burglary case several years back where we sent it out to the news media and the bad guy was from Des Moines,” Timmons recalls. “Through Crime Stoppers putting up a reward for it, that solved several burglaries.”

Every case matters.

“They’re all equally important,” Timmons says.

He works closely with Hamilton County Crime Stoppers Chairman Craig Blaufuss.

“I call him up, say, hey, Craig, we got this case, can you put a reward on it?” Timmons says. “Every time we call Craig to do something, he’s right on board.”

Blaufuss, like the rest of his board, is a volunteer. They drive the success of Crime Stoppers.

“If you care about your community, volunteer for it,” Timmons says.

“And if you care about these crimes getting solved or our most wanted people getting picked up, donate. I don’t care if it’s $5 or $100. If we don’t have donations, Crime Stoppers is no longer in existence.”

If you’d like to donate to Hamilton County Crime Stoppers, send contributions to Hamilton County Crime Stoppers, P.O. Box 315, Webster City, IA 50595.

How to submit a tip

• You can call the local tip line at the sheriff’s office: 515-832-8437. There is no recording device; the tipster gets an ID number from sheriff’s office; they must call back to determine if there is a capture and to specify how to receive the award.

• Go to www.P3TIPS.COM. This is the tipline portal for P3 intel, which is an international anonymous tip acquisition and management solution. P3 offers an efficient way for individuals to help solve crimes with their anonymous tips, and the software allows images, videos and documents to be uploaded with the tip. Once a tip is submitted, the tipster will receive a tip ID and password. With this information they can log onto P3TIPS and submit more info, engage in real time chat, be informed of the outcome of the tip, and get access to reward information.

• Download the P3 App, available for Apple and Android devices. This app will allow you to submit tips in the same way that you would submit by going to P3TIPS.COM but with a smartphone interface.

• Go to the Hamilton County Crime Stoppers website, click on “submit a tip” which will take you to P3TIPs.com. If your tip results in an arrest, then you must contact law enforcement by the way you submit the tip and request your reward. You must use your ID number, so don’t lose it. It is up to the tipster to make an arrangement for how they want to receive the reward.