Tips received in 2014 312 –

calls received 2590 in the year –

35 arrests made based on quality tips.

Bob Ogden of Crime Stoppers told directors at the RDOS today:

He has served for 4 years as a volunteer
All reward money is raised by donations and events
Less than $2000 given out this year – most people like the privacy of their calls not money.
Board members represent areas from Princeton to Summerland

Ogden says former spokesman Al Sismey is busy with Community Policing (Citizens on Patrol) working directly with the RCMP.

Ogden also told director that despite a bit of controversy at Crime Stoppers last year – all is functioning well. Grant money is given by the RDOS and funds much of the work of the organization.

Sismey was characterized as a civil employee under the jurisdiction of Superintendent Kevin Hewco and that all the volunteers have had to step up to the challenges within the organization.

Earlier on ODN: (April 10 2014)

The programme and the man under review says Regional Crime Stoppers Coordinator Al Sismey.

The programme review to be completed by Cst. Jack STETZ with E Division Community Policing representing the provincial parent association of Crime Stoppers.

This is the latest twist in a simmering dispute between Crime Stoppers located in Penticton ( society and registered charity ) and the RCMP ( Superintendent Kevin Hewco ) over what other jobs the Crime Stoppers programme can do.

For about five years Sismey and the local volunteers have worked hard to build up an organization that encourages trust with the public in the number of tips that have been garnered to fight crime. Prior to 2008 – Crime Stoppers did operate in conjunction with crime prevention – but the organization believed it could do more and better work without the attachment. The rub is that the programme still runs inside the police detachment with some access to RCMP resources.

<strong>Sismey says 85% of people won’t call the cops but they will call a tip line.</strong>

A new top policeman is appointed by the City of Penticton – and everything begins to unravel. Even the Mayor seemed upset that surprises were being communicated to him in a circuitous route. (see earlier stories on Mayor Garry Litke and Crime Stoppers)

Sismey says the programme has the funding from the RDOS, City of Penticton and charity fundraisers but it has not been involved in local crime prevention for many years but that is about to change if the RCMP chief gets his way.

<strong>Sismey says the biggest challenge is to convince the public that Crime Stoppers is not a police function, paid for or staffed.</strong>

Who is Al Sismey? Not a man building a career. He is a retired policeman and former Penticton retail merchant. Sixty six years in age. Born in Penticton and totally involved in his passion. Sismey served as a Mountie in Alberta for 13 years.

His budget for the regional Crime Stoppers is about $90,000 – $25,000 from fund raising and the largest portion from the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen. He says he is paid well but works very hard and seems to have the support of funders.

He says the review will be short and is hopeful his side of the story will prevail that a Crime Stoppers Tip Line is not compatible with a local Crime Prevention Program that should be staffed by police officers.