GLENDALE : Group Offers Cash to Help Control Crime

Crime isn’t exactly rampant in Glendale, but members of a new citizens group said they hope to prevent it from getting out of control by offering rewards to people who come forward and report crimes.

Glendale Crime Stoppers, a nonprofit organization run solely by Glendale residents and business people, will pay $1,000 cash for tips leading to the arrests--though not necessarily convictions--and the capture of fugitives. What’s more, through the use of a private phone line, the group is offering tipsters complete anonymity: Even the reward money will be paid out in cash, organizers said.

“Those who prey on others, if they are even convicted, receive short sentences and then are released early back into the community to again prey on others and retaliate against those who assisted in their arrest,” said Rick Barnes, president of the group’s board of directors.

Barnes, a real estate agent, recalled an incident in which a gardener working at one of his properties was beaten and robbed, but was reluctant to report it to the police. He said the Crime Stoppers program will help eliminate people’s apprehension about getting involved, whether they are victims or witnesses.

“Fear of retaliation, real or imagined, is one of the biggest hurdles we have to battle in the Police Department,” said Sgt. Leif Nicolaisen. “It’s our experience that people are much more willing to come forward with information if they are promised anonymity.”

Members of the Crime Stoppers board will solicit donations from local businesses on a continuing basis, and the group hopes to establish and maintain a reward purse of about $15,000, members said. The money will be used almost entirely for rewards, with a small amount going toward administrative costs. The group is entirely volunteer-run and has no paid employees.

The Crime Stoppers’ phone line will be answered by clerical personnel at the Police Department, who will ask tipsters for information about the crime being reported. Police will give the caller an ID number that can be used at a later date to collect reward money.

Because the intent is to keep the process completely anonymous, organizers said they will probably arrange meetings on a case-by-case basis to make the cash payments.

In addition, the Police Department will begin a publicity campaign called “crime of the week,” wherein the public’s help will be sought in solving a crime or locating a fugitive.

The program, modeled after state and national Crime Stoppers networks, differs from other anonymous police tip programs in that it is community based and nonpolitical, with no public officials sitting on the board of directors, backers said.

“I don’t want anything to do with politics. I’m doing this for my three kids,” said Bernie Jimmo, a landscape contractor and board member. “I’m working for this because it’s something to help us all survive, to take back our community.”

The phone number to report tips is (818) 507-STOP.

The phone line will be manned from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and there is an answering machine to take reports after hours, organizers said.