As the new president of the local Crime Stoppers, Frankie Nobles said he’s impressed at just how willing the board members are “to step up and do what needs to be done.”
Nobles said he’d like the community to do the same when it comes to providing information to solve crimes.
He told John C. Rose on Monday’s Town Talk that there was not a single payout request in 2021, which means that either there were no indictments or convictions as a result of tips sent in anonymously or, more likely, no tips sent in at all.
“We need the community to step up,” Nobles said. He also said he believes that people may be worried that their identity will be discovered. But Nobles said that is not the case.
Calling or texting the Crime Stoppers number is completely anonymous, Nobles said. The calls or messages get routed through a maze of different servers. The software that is used is safe and confidential.
“I think people are scared to make a tip because they think somebody’s going to know.” But he assures the public that is not the case. “We never even know who’s getting the money.”
Tips that do come in to Crime Stoppers are given to the appropriate agency, he explained. When an indictment is handed down or a conviction is made, the law enforcement agency submits the information to the Crime Stoppers board, which determines the amount of the payment to be made.
The board meets monthly, Nobles said. The executive board consists of Tonya Moore, who serves as vice president; Danny Wright, treasurer; and James Baines, secretary. Additional board members include Lorraine Watkins, Mike Fisher, Henry Gupton, Edward Woodlief and McKinley Perkinson, who is the fundraiser chairperson.
The Crime Stoppers will have a chicken plate fundraiser on March 11 at the Vance County Rescue Squad on 1735 Maynard Road. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available from any board member. Tickets must be purchased in advance, he said. It’s takeout only, and delivery can be arranged for 10 or more plates.
This is the first time the organization has had a chicken plate fundraiser, he said. Crime Stoppers formed in 1982 and VGCC law enforcement instructor Tom Long was its first chairman in 1985.
Nobles said the group has got some good things planned for the community and for the law enforcement personnel it supports.
COVID-19 has created a few wrinkles in the past couple of years, but the golf tournament is being planned and there will be another 50-50 raffle, for starters.
He wants Crime Stoppers to be more visible in the community by participating in events like the downtown car show and Night Out Against Crime.
But most importantly, he wants law enforcement agencies to know that Crime Stoppers supports them. Each agency will submit a name of an officer to be recognized for exceptional service in 2021, he said. “These officers are out there every day, putting their life on the line for us – the least we can do is recognize them.”
Visit the Crime Stoppers Facebook page to learn more about upcoming events.
