Last kick at the can? Crime Stoppers board member wants to ‘bend ears’ of Muskoka officials in hopes of saving chapter
January is crucial for Crime Stoppers chapter for Simcoe, Dufferin, and Muskoka as it faces financial challenges, says Tom Young
Since 1987, the local chapter has received 74,583 tips, resulting in 5,305 arrests, with 11,582 charges laid, $318,751 in cash recovered, more than $13 million in property recovered and about $95 million worth of drugs seized.
This month may be crucial in the future for the Crime Stoppers chapter for Simcoe, Dufferin and Muskoka.
With the advent of January being Crime Stoppers Awareness month, board member Tom Young said he will attend flag-raising events in the area to not only promote awareness about the program, but bend the ears of Muskoka municipal officials in hopes of saving the chapter.
“The way I see it, it’s going to be maybe the last kick at the can, face to face. I’ve already talked to the mayor of Bracebridge about it. We had a coffee. I’ve talked to (District of Muskoka chair) Jeff Lehman about it, of course, but I haven’t had a chance to talk to Gravenhurst or Huntsville face to face.”
Young has stated the organization is going broke and without a funding commitment of around $70,000 to $80,000 in the next eight months, it will close.
The money other than that spent on tip rewards includes maintaining an office, a part-time employee, a specialized phone line to handle the anonymous tips and other related expenses. There is some money in the bank presently, but those funds will not carry the group past this year.
https://www.simcoe.com/news/last-kick-at-the-can-crime-stoppers-board-member-wants-to-bend-ears-of-muskoka/article_35da8032-f3af-5cdb-8732-d6174fc8d035.html
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