Annual Report
Annual Report for 2019
The Virginia Peninsula Crime Stoppers (VPCS), incorporated by the State of Virginia in 1982, continued its longstanding contribution in helping make the Virginia Peninsula a safer place to live and work through its effort to obtain anonymously provided information to help law enforcement solve crimes and arrest wanted individuals. This private initiative is funded totally through donations by corporations, small businesses, organizations and individuals. The VPCS partners with the police departments of Hampton, Newport News,James City County, Williamsburg and Poquoson, the Sheriff’s Offices of Gloucester County and York County and the print, TV, radio and social media to achieve its continued success. This report presents a summary of the activities, contributions, and success of this all-volunteer, citizen-based organization.
Adams Outdoor Advertising
Adams Outdoor Advertising has increase their donated Crime Stoppers advertising on electronic billboards to help solve crimes on the Peninsula. A company executive attended a VPCS Board meeting to discuss increasing the advertising as well as increasing program advertising. This year they advertised the VPCS Salute to Law Enforcement event and became a Chiefs/Sheriff’s Sponsor.
Contribution to Community Safety
The primary mission of the VPCS is to provide a safe tool for citizens to report information anonymously concerning criminal activity to help law enforcement arrest wanted people and solve crimes. Callers remain anonymous, do not have to testify in court and could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 if their information results in an arrest, recovery of stolen property, or seizure of illegal drugs. This is achieved through the use of the
1-888-LOCK-U-UP telephone tip number and through the use of web and text tipping. The program’s contribution to community safety is measured through a few statistics. In 2019, the seven law enforcement division,departments and offices partnering with the VPCS: received 2,612 telephone calls; solved 115 cases; made 90 arrests; recovered $83,235 in stolen property; seized $8,780 in illegal drugs; and seized or recovered 13 weapons. The VPCS approved rewards totaling $27,535.
The following chart provides an overview of the program’s contribution to the community’s safety over the past ten years plus the ten year average for each of the performance statistics.
|
Performance
Year |
Number of Calls |
Number of Cases Solved |
Number of Arrests |
Value of Stolen Property & Illegal Drugs Recovered |
Rewards Approved |
|
2010 |
936 |
202 |
86 |
$55308 |
$40,059 |
|
2011 |
917 |
133 |
136 |
$27,418 |
$29,505 |
|
2012 |
994 |
108 |
105 |
$6,155 |
$30,845 |
|
2013 |
909 |
138 |
128 |
$35,122 |
$31,338 |
|
2014 |
964 |
131 |
113 |
$51,334 |
$27,575 |
|
2015 |
1046 |
96 |
92 |
$75,680 |
$24,146 |
|
2016 |
1052 |
137 |
85 |
$68,445 |
$27,462 |
|
2017 |
1020 |
98 |
96 |
Not Recorded |
$29,774 |
|
2018 |
2238 |
102 |
70 |
$72,068 |
$24,154 |
|
2019 |
2612 |
115 |
90 |
$92,015 |
$27,535 |
|
10 – Year Average |
1069 |
130 |
101 |
$53,727 |
$29,239 |
VPCS President R. Biege Donates Brick
This is a photograph of the Virginia Peninsula Crime Stoppers brick that was installed in the walk at the Newport News Police Department. This brick was donated in the program’s name by President Rich Biege.
VPCS Hosts
Virginia Crime Stoppers Association Conference
The annual Virginia Crime Stoppers Association’s training conference, hosted by the VPCS, was held September 30thand 31th at the Fort Magruder Hotel and Conference Center in Williamsburg. Crime Stopper board members from local programs across Virginia attended the conference. VPCS Directors staffed the event’s networking suite providing a comfortable, relaxing venue for those attending the conference to gather, share ideas, learn different solutions to common problems, and just renew old friendships. This conference provided “Back to Basics” training for improving the operation of local Crime Stoppers’ programs.
VPCS Officers Elected for Two Year Term
The officers for the Virginia Peninsula Crime Stoppers were elected in November and installed in December 2015 for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2016. The officers are: President - Rich Biege (retired); Vice President for Marketing - Cheryl Early (1stAdvantage Federal Credit Union); Vice President for Administration - Mike Minarik (retired) replaced by Fred Kern(retired); Treasurer - Susie Bartlome (Old Point National Bank); and Secretary- Skyler Place (Walmart/ODU Student).
Hampton Roads Transit
Begins Advertising on Buses
The Virginia Peninsula Crime Stoppers expanded it community outreach by reaching an agreement with HRT to advertise the Crime Stoppers program and telephone number on the inside of their buses running routes on the Peninsula. This cooperative advertising initiative began in November 2016.
Seventh Annual Salute to Law Enforcement
The Virginia Peninsula Crime Stoppers’ Seventh Annual Salute to Law Enforcement was held on June 16, 2016 at The Marriott Newport News City Center. This event honors a law enforcement officer and a civilian from each of the seven jurisdictions within the Virginia Peninsula Crime
Stoppers program. Those recognized were:
York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Michael Russell
Sandy Turbeville
Hampton Police Division Master Police Officer Delancy Pryor, Jr.
Debbie L. Heath
Newport News Police Dept. Master Police Officer Matthew Overton
Jennifer Conner
Williamsburg Police Dept. Master Police Officer Sean Hughes
Tobby Lane
Poquoson Police Dept. Officer Josh Pankoke
Pastor Daniel B. Cromer
James City County Police Dept. Senior Police Officer Timothy J. Renwick
Sharon Abney
Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Phil Lutz & K-9 Deputy Rexi
John Gordon
The Fred Kern Meritorious Service Award was given to Grady M. Blaylock, Chairman of the Board/Owner Equidata, Inc., for his more than 30 years of continuous support to the Virginia Peninsula Crime Stoppers program.
Headline Sponsors were: the Langley Federal Credit Union, BayPort Credit Union, Walmart,and the Daily Press. The Chief/Sheriff’s Sponsors were: 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union, Newport News Shipbuilding, Saint Leo University, and Adams Outdoor Advertising. The Back the Blue Sponsors were: Coliseum Central, BID, Inc., Old Point National Bank, and Equidata, Inc.
The 2017 Salute to Law Enforcement is scheduled for Thursday June 8, 2017 at the Marriott Newport News City Center hotel from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
16thAnnual Top Cop Awards & and Dinner
The Greater Hampton Roads Regional Crime Lines, Inc.’s, partnering with the seven Crime Line, Crime Solvers and Crime Stoppers programs across the Hampton Roads region, held its 16th Annual Top Cop Awards and Dinner on October 22, 2016 at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth. The past year, these seven programs received 3,789 calls and text tips, solved 347cases resulting in 251 arrests, recovery of stolen property valued at $127,420, and seized illegal drugs valued at $15,910.
Those officers recognized from the law enforcement departments partnering with the Virginia Peninsula Crime Stoppers were:
Hampton Police Division Senior Corporal Randal M. Mayer
Newport News Police Dept. Master Police Officer Melissa S. Gretsinger
Poquoson Police Dept. Officer Josh Pankoke
Williamsburg Police Dept. Investigator Sean Hughes
James City County Police Dept. Senior Police Officer Timothy J. Renwick
York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Travis Smith
The Bay Port Credit Union was recognized with the Corporation of the Year award.
Fundraiser at Cozzy’s Comedy Club and Tavern
The Virginia Peninsula Crime Stoppers held a fund raiser at Cozzy’s Comedy Club and Tavern in Newport News. Tickets to this event were $10 and food could be purchased at the Club. A comedian played to a packed house and the event raised over $1,000. Another fundraiser is being planned for Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at Cozzy’s and tickets will be available in February 2017.
VPCS Outreach
The VPCS’s speaker’s bureau discussed the Crime Stoppers program at a meeting of a Neighborhoods Watch group on Chesapeake Avenue in Newport News. Approximately 15 people attended.
VPCS Directors
The VPCS’ Board of Directors as of December 2016 was:
Rich Biege Army (Ret)
Susie Bartlome Old Point National Bank
Sherry Cassell Equidata, Inc. (Ret)
Jorge Gonzalez BayPort Credit Union
Dawn Joyner Civil Service Ret)
Fred Kern NASA (Ret)
Rick Pittinger Navy (Ret)
Brian Richards Wal Mart
Rob Szukelewicz Newport News Shipbuilding
Jim West Kings Mill Police Department
Amanda Wroten Newport News Police Foundation, Inc.