REDUCING CAMPUS CRIME

Crimestoppers Program Is Making Schools Safer

The Campus Crime Stoppers problem isn't about "snitching" or
"narc-ing" -- it's about making schools safer for students. And at a
time when some students are taking lethal weapons to school, in
addition to illicit drugs, a Crime Stoppers program for teen-age
students makes sense.

It's Crime Stoppers Month, and city police, appropriately, are
promoting the Campus Crime Stoppers program, which has helped solve
about 50 crimes -- including auto theft, weapons violations and
illegal drugs.

Since September, the Campus Crime Stoppers program has been
implemented in 26 high schools in the El Paso, Ysleta and Socorro
districts. Officials in every other school district in the county
should help get the program started. One of the best aspects of the
program, aside from the anonymity of callers, is that it's a
student-run program.

The teens are responsible for promoting the program and raising money
to keep it going. They also assign reward amounts for certain crimes.
The less adults appear to be driving forces behind such programs and
the more self-policing that student bodies do, the more likely it is
that teens will be interested.

At some schools a number of students naturally were reluctant to get
involved with their Campus Crime Stoppers program. But those who have
taken a bold step to do so deserve kudos. It may not be cool to those
who think they're above school regulations and city law to
participate in such a program. But it's equally uncool to end up
arrested on drug charges, to cost taxpayers thousands of dollars in
school vandalism or to get kicked out of school for gang fights.

Making schools safer is in the best interests of all students. More
information about Campus Crime Stoppers is available at 544-CLUE.