Chippewa County seeks to bring Crime Stoppers to the region

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU) – Chippewa County officials are implementing several different action plans to combat drug and criminal activity in the area. One of those efforts is to launch Crime Stoppers in the region.

Crime Stoppers is a national organization that Eau Claire County and other counties in Wisconsin have used as a form of crime reporting.

Rose Baier is the Director of Criminal Services for Chippewa County. She is also part of the county’s Take a Stand Against Meth campaign.

“We had held about five town halls across the county, getting feedback from community members on what they thought we needed to do to tackle methamphetamine,” Baier said.

Baier says the biggest takeaway from town hall meetings was that people didn’t know what to look for and how to report drug activity anonymously. This is where the idea to start Crime Stoppers came from.

“We’re really trying to focus on a county-wide Crime Stoppers organization,” Baier said. “Sometimes it’s easier to attract people only from Chippewa, but we really want to involve our peripheral jurisdictions. “

Baier said there would be anonymity when reporting. Crime Stoppers uses three different methods on an app that can be downloaded to your phone. The app also has an in-app texting feature to report a crime.

“It’s called the P-3 app that people can download to their phones for free and tip. “Baier said.

Chippewa County Sheriff James Kowalczyk hopes Crime Stoppers will further promote the ‘see, say something’ attitude, ”Kowalczyk said.

Baier says that more than drug-related crimes can be reported.

“Maybe thefts in the area, people breaking into houses, or just strange vehicles that aren’t supposed to be there. That sort of thing, ”Baier said.

Baier says the passionate residents of Chippewa County who are willing to volunteer on the community council are needed to start the Crime Stoppers movement in the area.

“The community council is really important because it runs the whole Crime Stoppers program. They try to promote, market, get funding, help pay for rewards, ”Baier said.

If you would like to learn more about the Take a Stand Against Meth campaign and how to volunteer for Crime Stoppers in Chippewa County, Click here.

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