The very first Crime Stoppers program began operation on September 8, 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. By mid 1977, Albuquerque could see a significant increase in its case clearance rate of violent crimes as well as a decrease in their rate of occurrence.

In June of 1979, Austin recognized the value of such a program. Joe Jerkins, then General Manager of KVUE-24 Television (Now KVUE Austin), approached Austin Police Chief Frank Dyson who not only supported the idea, but immediately assigned then Sgt. George Vanderhule to begin studying the program’s effectiveness in other communities. Mr. Jerkins than approached the Austin chamber of Commerce President Bill Archer and received the Chamber’s support and endorsement.

Soon after, a civilian Crime Stoppers Board of Directors was established and Austin Crime Stoppers, Inc was chartered as a non-profit tax exempt corporation. Official operations began on October 30, 1979. Now called Capital Area Crime Stoppers to better reflect the area we serve, the program offers cash rewards and anonymity to citizens who utilize the tips hotline to report information on criminal activity. If the tip leads to an arrest, the caller may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

The mission of Capital Area Crime Stoppers, Inc. is to assist local law enforcement in the fight against crime in the city of Austin and Travis County.

Capital Area Crime Stoppers, Inc continues to be successful because it is a grassroots community action program that involves the citizens, media, and law enforcement all working together to solve serious felony crimes. It encourages citizen involvement in making our community a safer place in which to work and live. Together we are making a difference!

The organization depends on three entities:

The Media: Our media partners are responsible for featuring the “Crime of the Week”, an exclusive feature on KVUE Austin. The “Fugitives of the Week” column is featured weekly in the Austin American Statesman. These generate valuable crime-solving tips from the public. Our media sponsors also promote special events and fundraising activities for Crime Stoppers.

Law Enforcement: Our local law enforcement is responsible for responding and investigating the tips received through the hotline, website, and P3 App. This is information that they might not otherwise have access to and can make the difference in finding the suspect.

The Community: We rely on citizens who take an active role in the safety of their neighborhood and call in with any tips or information they might have about a crime. Crime Stoppers is represented by a volunteer Board of Directors of local community leaders. They are responsible for overseeing the operation and administration of funds for the program.