Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers seeks $5,000 from Biloxi; council heard plea during public comments

During the citizens’ comment period, Lori Massey, director of Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers, asked the Biloxi City Council for $5,000 to match the same contribution the organization received from the city last year.

Massey, who serves on the state and national Crime Stoppers advisory boards, described several recent arrests she said were the result of anonymous tips submitted through Crime Stoppers’ social media and tip lines. “When fugitives are caught sooner, there’s less chance they’ll commit new crimes,” she said, and she told the council the program helps law enforcement work more efficiently across seven counties.

Massey asked the council to approve $5,000 to continue the program’s work in Biloxi. A staff response in the record confirmed the organization’s request and the amount. The council took no immediate, recorded vote during the citizens’ comments portion; any formal funding decision would typically occur as part of the city’s budget or consent agenda process.

Massey said Crime Stoppers provides anonymity and, in some cases, rewards that motivate tips that save law enforcement time and resources. The council did not take action immediately after the request during the public‑comment segment.