Fort High students to launch Crime Stoppers

They say crime doesn’t pay. And it doesn’t, but reporting crime can.
A group of students dedicated to making the community a better—and safer—place to live are rekindling the student Crime Stoppers program at Fort High so students can report criminal activities anonymously or just report suggestions to problems they may observe at school.
And they could get cash.
As with any Crime Stoppers program, students could receive up to $2,000 for their efforts to curb crime on campus when they call the toll-free Crime Stoppers number.
Aimee Beazley, chair of the Fort Frances Crime Stoppers branch, said one of the goals is to raise awareness of the program with students. She noted youths have a vast knowledge about crime in the community, either by witnessing it or hearing about it second-hand.
“But they’re intimidated to go to the police,” she said. “Crime Stoppers can bridge that gap.”
The problem is students aren’t as familiar with the program any more.
This wasn’t always the case. Nancy Gillon said that in the old high school, the student Crime Stoppers program was fairly active. Today, the only presence the organization has in the school is a wooden tips box located in the library.
“Half the kids [in school] don’t go into the library so they probably haven’t seen the box and don’t know what [Crime Stoppers] is about,” said Joey Lee, chair of the student group.
“[Student Crime Stoppers] is somewhere for people to go if there’s something they want to get out,” he added.
Lee and a handful of other students have spearheaded the rekindling of the organization in the school with Gillon’s help in an effort to reduce violence and crime in school, said Beazley.
“This seemed like a good thing to get involved in,” said Lee as to why he is involved in starting up the group. “I want to be a cop when I grow up. This is in the right direction.”
The group held only its third meeting last week—proving it is still in the grassroots phase. And their numbers still are quite modest, having just enough to form an executive, but the group is optimistic and enthusiastic about what they’re doing.
Plans are in the works to promote the group to grow membership. They are designing a brochure, posters, and even a Web site to inform students and parents of the school program.
Lee even has volunteered to go on the radio to promote Student Crime Stoppers, and they plan a membership drive in the school after March Break that could include a free lunch for all new members.
Other incentives for high school students to help with and join Crime Stoppers, said Fort Frances OPP Cst. Al MacDonald, is they can count their efforts toward the 40 hours of community service they require to graduate.
And he noted students who become actively involved also could be eligible for a letter of reference from Crime Stoppers—an excellent tool when applying for scholarships and bursaries, to post-secondary institutions, and for jobs.
If that’s not enough, he said all members will get a free Crime Stoppers T-shirt.
Upcoming fundraising and awareness activities include a fish fry at the Pinewood Sports boat show this spring, the Emo Fair, the Great Rubber Duckie race, and manning a booth with the Fort Frances Crime Stoppers at the bass tournament in July.
And don’t be surprised to see a member of the group—or even a local OPP officer or high school principal—on a dunk tank seat in the near future.