Here's how Crime Stoppers is really keeping your tips anonymous.
INDIANAPOLIS — Two organizations are working hand-in-hand to fight crime in Indianapolis: Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
The two are different, despite having the same goal. The main difference is that Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous.
13News talked to both organizations about how they are able to work together to fight crime in central Indiana.
Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana
Every time the phone rings inside Crime Stoppers, trained and expert operators hope justice is calling.
They work around the clock, collecting anonymous tips to help fight crime.
"It doesn't matter what the tip is," said Dan Rosenberg, the organization's director and coordinator. "We always send it."
Rosenberg describes his operation as a puzzle, where no tip is too small.
"Many times, those missing pieces are small pieces, but they are pieces that are out in the community. The community is a much bigger part of this whole puzzle than they realize," Rosenberg said.
This begs the question: How can calls really be anonymous with all the tracking technology on cellphones?
Rosenberg said the answer is sending calls across the board into Canada, where anonymity laws are much stricter.
"When it is up in Canada, everything is scrubbed from that," Rosenberg said. "When we get a phone call, it just says 'the tip line' because that is the response that Canada sends us."
Rosenberg said tracking down contact information for a tipster would involve the FBI, international warrants and Canadian courts.
However, Rosenberg said those extreme steps are needed to help protect anonymity.
Our next question: How do callers get reward money if they are truly anonymous?
"We have relationships with banks around the area," Rosenberg said. "Those banks have a coordinated desk. We give you an exact place in the bank that you have to be. We give you a password. We have a code name for you that you pick out, and then you have to be there precisely at that moment. The video for that particular desk is turned off, and if you say all these things, the manager of the bank hands you an envelope with cash."
Rosenberg said that way, there is no receipt. There is no interaction with police. There is no trace the anonymous tipster was ever involved.
"Really, because what's important with this program is that people can feel safe," Rosenberg said.
Rosenberg also said despite being able to offer up to $1,000 rewards for a tip leading to an arrest, about 95% of the tipsters ask not to be paid.
Leaders at Crime Stoppers admit not every call is a valid or helpful tip. In fact, Rosenberg said sometimes the calls aren't even about crimes.
"Sometimes, the tips may not be criminal in nature," Rosenberg said. "They are just upset about the sidewalk. The neighbor's dog pooped on their lawn. Sometimes people need an outlet."
Rosenberg said even those calls are answered every time.
"At the end of the day, if you're providing a service, it has value," Rosenberg said.
The true value of Crime Stoppers is through its partnership with local police, covering 18 counties from Howard County to Brown County. This includes Marion County and IMPD.
"We are a filter for law enforcement," Rosenberg said. "We have law enforcement advisors. We have input about what helps their cases and what doesn't."
In fact, Crime Stoppers can often act as a last leg for police, just when detectives feel as if they are at the end of the road.
"Sometimes, we need a Hail Mary at the end of the game," Rosenberg said. "We need somebody who is out there in the community that maybe is scared to take that last step forward."
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department
"Violence in our community is not just a police problem," IMPD Lt. Shane Foley said. "It takes the police, the community, and all parts of our criminal justice system to engage with this to prevent crime, and when it does happen, to address it."
13News sat down with IMPD, who confirmed there is no involvement with anonymous tipsters through Crime Stoppers.
"That is intentional," Foley said. "That is intentional to help ensure that the people who are calling are truly anonymous."
Foley said the main difference between calling Crime Stoppers and IMPD detectives is in the follow-up. He said detectives can typically ask direct follow-up questions to callers, which can get more information for the investigation.
"It's nice when we can solve a crime," Foley said. "It's even better when we can prevent it."
Either way, Foley said callers don't have to give their name to Crime Stoppers, nor IMPD. Plus, police said even a little information can go a long way.
"Please call, whether it's to our detectives or whether it's to Crime Stoppers," Foley said. "Please engage with the investigation and help."
According to IMPD, when the community does engage, police are more likely to find justice.
"Hopefully, by making these arrests, we are preventing other things from happening," Foley said.
Foley personally knows how important community tips can be.
A few years ago, he was the victim of arson. A Ring camera caught the suspect in the act, and within just one day, Foley said the community identified the suspect.
"Those tips resulted in him being convicted, and he was responsible for at least eight house fires," Foley said.
David Bradshaw, the man charged in the case, is now spending 30 years behind bars.
"This individual sets your house on fire, and you wonder, 'is he going to come back?'" Foley said. "Well, I can rest assured he is not going to come back for a long, long time."
Submitting an anonymous tip
Rosenberg said there are three ways to submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.
Hoosiers can use the Crime Stoppers mobile app, website portal or by calling 317-262-8477.
As the tipline has developed over the years, Rosenberg has made his mission very clear.
"This is not a snitch line," Rosenberg said.
Instead, leaders say it is a tool to help police fight crime.
"We don't ever want to take a witness away from the police department," Rosenberg said. "If you can be a witness, stay out of my program. Don't come here. If you can talk to the police, number one, talk to them. If you can't do it, I get it. Come talk to us."
