Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers

***Note to Crime Stoppers Tipsters***

Please remember in order to be considered for a reward you must call Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 863-TIPS or submit a web or mobile app tip. Our Call Center will contact the Dispatcher or 911 operator if the call requires urgent action. 

PLEASE NOTE: Cash rewards are paid out in Okaloosa & Walton counties only. We do not have the capability to pay a tipster outside our program's region.  

THE BEST WAY TO RECEIVE UPDATES IS BY LOGGING IN AT WWW.P3TIPS.COM. You may check on your tip by giving your "Tip Number". The person answering the phone will check the status in the computer. They will tell you if its pending or closed or if your eligible for a reward. Remember Crime Stoppers has to wait to get information back from law enforcement. Different types of crimes take longer to solve than others. Its not unusual to wait 4-6 weeks on a particular case. A lot of times the tipster knows of the arrest before we find out from law enforcement.  

Put simply it is a three part approach to solving the crime problem. Crime Stoppers relies on cooperation between the police, the media, and the general community to provide a flow of information about crime and criminals.

The Phone Call

Calls are received at the local Crime Stoppers tips line phone (863-TIPS). This phone is a stand alone instrument which does not provide caller ID, and conversations are not recorded. The Crime Stoppers Coordinator receiving the information completes the tips information form, makes initial inquiries and then passes the information to the investigating officer. Calls are accepted regarding any publicized request for information, such as "Crime of the Week" or such other crime(s) the caller has knowledge of.

By guaranteeing a caller's anonymity Crime Stoppers allows the caller to give information in a positive atmosphere without the prospect of retribution. By offering cash rewards for information leading to indictment or arrests, the program encourages otherwise reluctant callers to provide information.

In order to be considered for a reward you MUST call the Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers tip line at (850) 863-TIPS.You may also submit a web or mobile tip and be eigible for a reward. Tipsters can call in for tip status the second and fourth Monday of each month from 8-11 a.m. using the number given to them when they called in thir original tip. It is a tipster's responsiblity to remember their "tip number" as tip status cannot be given without this tip number. The person answering the phone will check the tip status and tell the tipster if the case is pensing, closed, or if the tipster is eligible for a reward. Remember, Crime Stoppers has to wait to get information back from law enforcement. Different types of tips take longet to investigate than others. It is not unusual  to wait 6-8 weeks on a particular case.

In an emergency situation where time is of great importance please call 9-1-1!

HOW ARE REWARDS PAID?

When you call Crime Stoppers, you are given a tipster ID number and asked to call back after some time has passed. If you are eligible for a reward, you will be advised of the procedure for picking up your cash reward. Tipsters who call in information that is considered valuable and accurate in relation to a crime are eligible for a reward of UP TO $3,000. Each month, a volunteer board of directors votes on the amount of reward money given to each tipster according to the severity of the crime and the accuracy and relevance of the tip information. The board of directors meets the second Tuesday of each month. Rewards range from $50 to $3,000 depending on the severity of the crime, the number of offenders caught and the offences cleared up. Most rewards are between $100 and $500. Several tipsters even refuse their reward!

The Online WebTip

Tipsters now have the option of giving us tips online. The process is completely secure and anonymous and is a very effective and efficient means of safely communicating with us in today's world. Our WebTip process is powered by the world's leading online tip solution provider, Anderson Software.  

The very unique integrated Two-Way Dialog capabilities allow the tipster to come back and provide additional information to their tip at any time, but also provides a secure means for the coordinator to ask questions or provide reward information back to the tipster through the same secure and encrypted interface.

Structure and Funding of Crime Stoppers

Crime Stopper Programs are organized as a not for profit organization (Charity). A civilian community board of directors provides direction as to the financial and promotional activities of the program. The board of directors enhances the community involvement aspect, and its function is vital to the programs success.

The Crime Stoppers program is funded by private donations and fund raising. NO TAX DOLLARS are involved. The reward money paid out by the program is from the fund raising and donations from concerned citizens and businesses.

A community board of directors, made up of persons from throughout the area, meets on a monthly basis to evaluate arrests and to decide on the size of rewards to be paid, up to $3,000. Rewards are then distributed in a private manner to the callers. Callers are eligible for rewards up to $3,000, but, despite this, many callers choose not to collect their rewards.