Students Help Deter Dangers Through District Crimestoppers Programs
By: Katiera Winfrey
Updated: February 22, 2013
"Crimestoppers you don't know how many sets of eyes you have out there, it's a definite bonus it's a definite tool for officers on campus," said Ector County ISD officer Jeff Daniels.
Daniels said it's thanks to a student that a nine millimeter pistol was every discovered on the Nimitz Junior High campus Tuesday.
"It was observed as a crime stoppers tip that another student observed another student with a weapon on campus," said Daniels.
He said at any point a weapon can be on any campus. Since officers can't conduct random searches, they rely on every pair of eyes to report any threats.
Daniels said it's a good thing. "They don't know who's watching."
The Crimestoppers program has proved to be as helpful in Midland ISD. The district police chief David Coleman said most of the activity they are reported consist of drug possession and very few weapon allegations. Even so he said at least 90 percent of reported incident prove to hold some merit.
"Usually the tips that we receive it'll be somebody that saw it in a backpack or the student showed it to someone," said Coleman.
For both districts, the process of reporting incidents is essentially the same.
"I think people sort of realized how many students get involved in these sort of issues because they are concerned about their safety and the teachers and the staff," said Coleburn.
Officer Daniels calls the student reporting a sign of maturity. Saying that student recognize the need to have Crimestoppers in the school and have an desire to keep the school safe.
On February 13, a group of 14 ECISD students returned from the State Crimstoppers Conference for campuses in Austin. The group brought back six of nine awards they were up to receive. Daniels said, the amount of awards ECISD won is the largest any Texas campus has won in a one year period.
List of Awards:
First Place-Initiative
First Place-General News Print
First Place- Poster Contest
Award-Administrator of the Year
Award-Cases Cleared
Award-Recovery Dollars (theft/drugs)
