Officials Seek to Promote Crime-Fighting Hot Line
City officials want residents to use their telephones to fight crime.
On Wednesday, the city will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. in the Smith Park Auditorium, at Rosemead Boulevard and Mines Avenue, to tell residents how to use the “We TIP” hot line to anonymously report drug deals, gang violence, vandalism, theft and other crimes.
Although Pico Rivera has been a supporter of the We TIP program since 1975, city spokesman Bill Schlapper said many residents do not know about it.
Reporting crimes in English or Spanish will be explained by Armando Rea, a sheriff’s deputy in the Lakewood office and a Lynwood councilman, and Councilman Rick Mercado, is the city’s liaison for We TIP.
The state We TIP program was begun 20 years ago to help officers combat drug trafficking. Since then, the program has spread nationwide and has resulted in almost 10,000 arrests and more than 4,200 convictions, officials said.
People who call the hot line are promised anonymity and many receive cash rewards for informing the hot line about criminal activities.
To contact the We TIP hot line, call (800) 78-CRIME.
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