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Sheriff’s Office Entering Partnership With Crime Stoppers

Release Date: April 15, 2004

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office will be working in a closer partnership with the Memphis branch of Crime Stoppers. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has assisted Crime Stoppers for almost 25 years with criminal investigations. Now, the Sheriff’s Office will be helping to fund the organization through money confiscated in illegal drug crimes.

The Sheriff’s Office Drug Seizure Fund is primarily used to buy equipment and supplies for the Narcotics Unit. However, the Justice Department allows law enforcement agencies to use some of the money confiscated in drug deal transactions for organizations that fight crime, or provide drug treatment and education programs.

“Crime Stoppers has branches all over the world. Their methods have been proven not only in their efforts to solve crimes, but the way they handle their finances. It’s vital when we offer our drug funds to other organizations that they be used properly with a high degree of accountability. We believe Crime Stoppers is an excellent agency for us to partner with,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.

Since 1981 the Memphis Crime Stoppers office has solved 795 murders, 20,000 felons have been arrested, $15 million worth of stolen goods and $19 million involved in illegal drugs have been recovered.

“Crime Stoppers depends on donations from government agencies, businesses and concerned citizens. We, like a lot of non-profit agencies, have seen a reduction in grant funding. This donation from the Sheriff’s Office will help ensure we have the money we need to solve crimes at no cost to the citizens,” said Walter Crews, Memphis Crime Stoppers Executive Director and former Director of the Memphis Police Department.

Sheriff Luttrell will present a check for $20,000 to Memphis Crime Stoppers at a ceremony tomorrow, April 16, 2004. The event will be held at 201 Poplar, in the Sheriff’s Office Administrative Conference Room on the 9 th Floor at 3:30 p.m.

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