Media

Shelby County Sheriff's Office announces community partnership to catch fugitives through billboard messages

Release Date: October 10, 2003

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is partnering with Clear Channel Outdoor to use billboard messages to encourage citizens to turn in fugitives. Sixteen billboards publicize the Shelby County Sheriff's Office internet website which can be used for leaving tips about thousands who have outstanding warrants against them.

“We currently have almost 59,000 people wanted by the Shelby County Fugitive Division. Although our officers are arresting fugitives daily, we need the public's help to verify warrant information and help us get these people into custody,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell, Jr.

“This partnership between Clear Channel Outdoor and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office shows the power of how law enforcement and businesses can work together to help keep our community safe,” said Tony Dailey, President of Clear Channel Outdoor.

Some of the billboard locations are:

• Danny Thomas/North Parkway
• Elvis Presley/Brooks
• Highland/Southern
• I-240/Airways
• Lamar/Winchester
• Poplar/Union Extended
• Union/Lauderdale
• Airways/Park
• Getwell/Lamar
• I-40/Highway 64
• I-240/Covington Pike
• I-55/I-240
• Millbranch/Shelby Drive
• Third/Butler
• Third/Holmes
• Thomas/Frayser Blvd

The Sheriff's Office website has provided a link to the fugitive list since February, 2003. Since that time, almost 500 arrests have been made through tips from internet visitors.

Citizens may leave anonymous tips at www.shelbywarrants.org. The billboards emphasize fugitives especially wanted for DUI, child support, and drug offenses.

Money to cover the printing costs of the billboards was taken from Federal Drug Seizure Funds. The United States Department of Justice allows some of the money recovered from illegal drug operations to be used by law enforcement agencies to assist drug treatment facilities or drug education initiatives.

A news conference to unveil one of the billboards will be held on Friday, October 10, 2003, at 3285 Thomas just south of Frayser Blvd at 10 o'clock a. m. Sheriff Luttrell, members of the Shelby County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Squad and Clear Channel Outdoor representatives will be available to answer questions.