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Chambers County OKs $5,000 in ARPA funds for Crime Stoppers reporting app
Summary
Chambers County Commissioners approved $5,000 in ARPA funds to help Crime Stoppers purchase an anonymous tip-reporting app and three years of service; deputy coordinator described how the app issues tip IDs and aids statewide reporting and required biannual reports.
Chambers County Commissioners on Jan. 26 approved a $5,000 allocation from the county’s ARPA funds to help Chambers County Crime Stoppers buy an anonymous tip-reporting app and pay for three years of service.
The county’s Crime Stoppers coordinator, who identified himself as “Deputy Turbo,” told the court the app allows users to submit tips anonymously and assigns each tipster a unique ID number so detectives can follow up without learning the person’s identity. "What the app is unique is that someone could either call it in directly ... they're given a special ID number," he said, describing how detectives can contact tipsters through that identifier to gather additional information.
Deputy Turbo told the court the program has been revived with strong support from the sheriff’s office and that certification and statewide listing make it easier to receive tips from outside the county. Staff said the county’s IT office reviewed the vendor and that the purchase will be conducted through an approved cooperative procurement.
Commissioners moved and unanimously approved the ARPA allocation during the consent portion of the meeting. The court’s action funds the app purchase and three years of service as described in staff materials.
The next step is a staff-led rollout and public awareness push if the app is procured; speakers indicated the sheriff’s office and Crime Stoppers will coordinate publicity and monthly updates to the sheriff’s office.
