Gun Bounty Program Renewal and Distracted Driving

Previous post on the Champaign County Crime Stoppers' Gun Bounty program here. WCIA had a news segment on the program's achievements after a 3 month trial run and the need for public funding to continue the program here. That link also had a video from Crime Stoppers with an overview of the program and how it works.

WAND had a brief video segment and quick rundown of the program's accomplishments in an article here:

Law enforcement in Champaign County has arrested people believed to be connected to gun crimes with help from a reward program.

In the gun bounty reward program, anonymous Crime Stoppers tips that lead to the arrest of someone who used a gun in a felony crime will mean the maximum $1,000 reward. With the help of three tips, authorities arrested four people during the program’s three-month pilot period. Crime Stoppers paid each tipster and spent a total of $3,000 on rewards.

Law enforcement recovered more than 4.4 pounds of cannabis, over $2,000 in cash, a shotgun, seven handguns and two rifles with the help of the anonymous tips. One handgun and one rifle were previously reported stolen, according to a Crime Stoppers press release.

More information at the full article here and a link to where donations can be made to help support Crime Stoppers here. The News-Gazette also had a blurb in today's paper (available in their eEdition here) where local police vouched for the program's effectiveness:

Said [Champaign police Sgt. Geoff Coon]: “I talked to Champaign County Street Crimes Task Force supervisor Dave Griffet, who’s very proactive and has his ear to the streets. The feedback he’s getting is people are aware of it in the community. In his opinion, it is driving up our tips and some of the information we’re receiving.” Crime Stoppers board President John Hecker also believes the program is worth continuing. But more big rewards mean the group will need to double down on fundraising. “We’re going to need to make a major appeal to the community as a whole and also some of the larger corporate constituents of Champaign County, because these gun-related crimes definitely affect those locations,” Hecker said. “Basically, bring forth the importance of this and the success we’ve had with the hopes they would step forward to assist in the funding.”

The Crime Stoppers board meets on April 25 and could decide next steps then.

In other County law enforcement news, the new County Sheriff would prefer voluntary compliance of drivers to avoid distracted driving, but given the recent law enforcement deaths on the road, he won't be dissuading deputies from issuing tickets. From the same eEdition link in today's paper:

Deputies in Champaign and Douglas counties will join in a statewide effort this month to focus on drivers who are not focusing on their own driving.

In the wake of four law enforcement officer deaths and a dozen other officers injured in Illinois this year, police all over the state are working to increase awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.

Drive safe, for all our sakes!