ANONYMOUS CALLS A CRIME-FIGHTING FORCE

"It makes you feel good. It makes the police feel good, and it should make
the whole community feel good."

With the eyes and ears of concerned citizens added to their arsenal of
crime-fighting tools, police are turning to Joe and Jane Public more than
ever to crack down on the criminal element.

"People are making a difference," says Det. Const. Peter Leon, police
co-ordinator for the local Crime Stoppers program. "Our numbers are
increasing every year."

Serving the third largest geographic region in the province,
Simcoe-Dufferin-Muskoka boasts the second busiest program in Ontario.

Along with Leon, who is on loan from the OPP, a skeleton staff of one
full-time and one part-time worker fielded 2,336 calls last year, resulting
in 150 arrests and 254 solved cases.

In that time, police used these tips to recover more than $600,000 in
property and seize close to $3 million in illegal drugs.

"It makes you feel good," adds Fred MacLean, a Crime Stoppers director. "It
makes the police feel good, and it should make the whole community feel good."

Only Toronto surpasses the Simcoe-Dufferin-Muskoka program in terms of the
number of calls lodged, and even then the difference is minor - Toronto
receiving just 200 more in 2002.

The premise of the decades-old program is simple.

Individuals who have information they believe could help investigators
solve a crime are encouraged to make contact through a well publicized toll
free number, 1-800-222-TIPS.

Callers are guaranteed complete anonymity, and never have to testify in
court. Tips that lead to an arrest can earn a cash reward of up to $1,000.

All tips are forwarded to police, regardless of the quality of information
or the source.

"We don't play judge and jury," says Leon.

Citizen interest in solving crimes has also led police to revive so-called
"cold cases."

"A lot of time they have information, but it is very limited," adds Leon.
"This can add to that and ultimately lead to a positive conclusion."

Call takers work to gain the confidence of those at the other end of the
line, slowly building a rapport with these faceless, nameless individuals
while putting them at ease.

"That is why the relationship flourishes," added Leon. "By the end, they
are often amazed at how much they do know."

Working without a dime of government funding, Crime Stoppers relies
entirely on local fund-raising efforts to stay up and running.

"It all goes to a very good cause," adds MacLean.

Area high schools have also taken interest in the program, with students
encouraged to pass along information about drugs, weapons, bullying, and
vandalism.

"No two calls are ever the same," says Leon. "Every student perceives
things in a different way."