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Students Taking Control of Their Own Safety
Eleven years ago, Silent Observer began offering the Fast 50 Program to all middle and high schools in Kent County. Participation has increased over the years and as of today, 67 schools encourage their students to call Silent Observer to report drugs, weapons, vandalism, theft, threats and arson.
During the 2008-2009 school year, Fast 50 tips to Silent Observer led school administrators to 72 students involved in the following offenses:
Drugs - 33
Weapons - 14
Theft - 8
Alcohol - 8
Fireworks - 2
Fire Alarm - 2
Bomb Threat - 2
Assault - 1
Other - 3
Total - 73
And $3,875 in rewards were authorized.
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$36 MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN
Silent Observer kicked off a campaign in December asking people if they would be willing to donate $36 to Silent Observer as a way of acknowledging our history of removing criminals from our streets (we are 36 years old). Our goal is to receive 1,000 donations which would help us tremendously in offering our important programs to the community. We don't have much to report....no new donations have come in since the last newsletter.
So, in order to make this email campaign work, we need your help. Would you consider sending this edition of Tip Talk to some of your friends and people in your business network who may be interested in supporting Silent Observer? All you have to do is click here to forward this newsletter to your contacts.The more people we can reach the better. Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Membership information can be found at www.silentobserver.org. You may donate, on our secure site, by using your credit card or you can print out the donation form and mail it in. Silent Observer's address is: PO Box 230321, Grand Rapids, MI 49523.
We will continue to keep you posted on the progress of this campaign.
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Case Closed |
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"Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Silent Observer at 774-2345."
We hear that on the news, night after night, when the TV anchors are reporting about a crime that occurred in our city. But then what....did that case get solved? Did anyone call Silent Observer?
Well, chances are that Silent Observer got lots of calls and many of them provided police with new intelligence. And some of them even assisted police in making an arrest. So with much thanks and pride, here are a few of the cases solved due to our wonderful tipsters since the last TipTalk.
Most of the tips we receive are drug related, so over the last few months we authorized rewards for information received about a fugitive wanted on serious drug charges; 3 people for manufacturing marijuana; and an employee selling drugs out of the gas station where he worked. Then we received a great tip about a guy who had robbed 20 businesses such as Burger King, Amoco, Shell, and Speedway Gas Stations. Can you image how scared those employees must have been?
Another tip was about a man responsible for up to 20 car burglaries in Alpine and Plainfield Townships where he targeted anything of value. The tip was right on and led to the suspect who confessed to four of the car larcenies. We all work so hard for what we have...it is upsetting to have our possessions damaged or stolen.
There was a home in the city of Walker that was burglarized and electronic items were stolen. A tip came in that led police to the two people involved in this burglary.
Any of these crimes could have happened to you and me, right in our own neighborhoods. Silent Observer keeps our community safe. The cases mentioned above prove that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
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Golf Event A Great Success!
The Coldwell Banker AJS Schmidt Charity Golf Event was a great success. The outing raised $14,000 for Silent Observer which will help us tremendously in maintaining our current programs, like Fast 50, Text A Tip, and working with people tired of crime in their neighborhoods.
A special thanks to our wonderful golf committee from Coldwell Banker AJS Schmidt for working so hard at making this truly one of the best golf events around. Their efforts are much appreciated.
A big thank you to the sponsors of the Coldwell Banker AJS Schmidt Charity Golf event. They include: Kuiper-Orlebeke, Dean Transportation, Miller Canfield, Amway, American Home Shield, Bank of America, DK Security, Great Lakes Risk Management, The Closing Office, B&B Beer Distributing, FOP Lodge #97, Kent County Area Chiefs of Police & Transnation Title. | |
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Directors Download...
I have been with Silent Observer for a long time...14 years in fact. I know the program inside and out...how it operates...its successes and all the good it does in the community. And yes, its weaknesses too, although there really aren't too many. Hardly anything surprises me until I hear statements about Silent Observer that people profoundly believe are true but in reality are utterly false. I've heard too many of these misconceptions lately, so if you don't mind I'd like to address them in this column.
Misconception One: "The people that call Silent Observer to give information about crime are criminals themselves." Well, because this is an anonymous tip line and we guarantee that our callers identities will not be compromised, I can't really say if this is true or not. But after 14 years with Silent Observer, this is what I know to be true: When I have paid informants on the street, I have met some pretty decent people...everyday people....like you and me...moms and dads with kids in tow, thankful for the money to put groceries on the table. And then there have been concerned neighbors, who actually whispered when they called, fearful that the bad guys outside would hear their pleas but hopeful that their information would make their world safer. Or there are those who call in order to bring about justice for victims of crime...the Equalizers...who know that to help right a wrong, the perpetrator must be brought to justice. There may be some criminal types that call Silent Observer but frankly, I don't really care as long as the information we receive helps keep our residents and our community safe.
Misconception Two: "People who call Silent Observer are only calling to get the reward money." There is a financial incentive to call Silent Observer with crime-solving information and it has been that way since the beginning. Callers whose tips lead to the arrest of an individual are eligible for a reward. Reward amounts range from $50 - $1000. Although we love to give out reward money to those who have earned it, we are always surprised when running the numbers reveals that only 40 percent of the authorized rewards are ever claimed. That means 60% of our callers aren't doing it for the money. They are calling Silent Observer because it's easy and the right thing to do.
Misconception Three: "Silent Observer does not investigate all of the tips they receive." I have learned over the years that some people actually believe Silent Observer has its own police force which always makes me laugh. But this is how we operate: Silent Observer receives an anonymous tip. Silent Observer does not make any judgement on the validity or value of the tip. We send every tip on to the appropriate law enforcement agency for them to decide what course of action the tip requires.
Misconception Four: "Silent Observer receives tax money to operate." Boy how I wish that were true!! Silent Observer is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization and does not receive any tax money. We must raise every penny we need to operate, and we are very proud of all we have accomplished and all we can offer the community with a very small operating budget.
So there you have it. If you ever have any questions about Silent Observer, I hope you will shoot me an email at cameronc@grandrapids.org. |
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Silent Observer Presents:
GRAB THE MIC TO ROAST VANDYKE!
Silent Observer's Fundraising Dinner and Roast of
Fifth Third Bank's
Michelle VanDyke
Thursday, September 10
6 p.m.
Amway World Headquarters
7575 Fulton East
Ada, MI 49301
Emcee is Mike Jandernoa
Roasters include John Canepa, Kim Klein (Michelle's sister), and David VanAndel
Where can you have a great dinner in a beautiful setting while helping keep you, your family and your neighborhood safe? It's this year's Silent Observer Roast, titled "Grab The Mic To Roast VanDyke" at the newly remodeled Amway Corporate Headquarters.
This year, because of the deteriorating economy, we need your support more than ever. Some people think we are part of a police agency or that some larger bureaucracy pays our bills but that is not the case. Silent Observer must raise everything we need to continue to operate year after year. Please understand that when you sponsor one of our events, you are investing in the safety and security of your neighborhood, your businesses and your schools.
Sponsorships for tables of 8 range from $1250 - $3500 and individual tickets are $125 each. For more information or to reserve your spot please call Chris Cameron at 616-454-9110 or download the sponsorship information by clicking Silent Observer Roast Information.
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PSAs Highlight Unsolved Homicides
In order to bring some unsolved homicides to the forefront, Silent Observer, Delayed Justice, and Conquerors Support Group launched a series of video public service announcements (PSAs) in June. These are powerful videos featuring members of our community who have lost loved ones to homicide. And although participating was not easy and took a great deal courage, their motivation was to seek justice for their loved one, and to encourage those in the know to call Silent Observer in the hopes that violent criminals will be removed from our neighborhoods. Conqueror's took care of coordinating the people who are featured in these spots. Delayed Justice and David Schock produced these videos at no charge to us.
Carolyn Priester whose son, Lee, was murdered two years ago on the 1000 block of Lafayette is the founder of Conqueror's. Instead of this tragedy leaving her angry and powerless, she formed this group that meets to comfort and lift up others who have lost loved ones to homicide. Rallying for justice and speaking out against the code of silence, the members of Conquerors have put a public face on murder. Our hope with these PSAs is that those on the edge or those in the know, will see first hand the devastating effects of murder and decide to help find justice. 
David Schock with Delayed Justice is known for his insightful film on the death of Janet Chandler when he was an associate professor at Hope College. As you remember, he told the story so well...the case was solved. David produces films that tell the stories of victims of murder but the films also memorialize those whose lives have been violently taken. His hope, like Carolyn's and mine, is that somebody will come forward to tell the truth. A huge thank you to David for making this campaign possible and for having the heart to assist those who seek justice for their loved ones.
Thank you also to our area television stations for airing these pubic service videos for us at no charge.
We all have high hopes that Silent Observer will receive calls that will provide the kind of information police need to solve these crimes. This is an experimental effort of sorts...if it is successful we will work to find the funding to continue this campaign. To view these powerful videos, go to Solve A Crime, Drop A Dime.
Silent Observer provides an anonymous tip line so that residents can share their important information about crime. The end result of a good tip is a safer community because criminals are removed from our neighborhoods. But also, those that use Silent Observer do their part in helping victims of crime find justice. So anyone with information about these crimes is encouraged to call us. If information received by us leads to the arrest and bind over of the suspects involved, Silent Observer will pay a reward of up to $1,000.
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PO Box 230321
Grand Rapids, MI 49523
TXT: CRIMES (274637) include keyword TIP138 in message
Administration: 616-454-9110
Email: cameronc@grandrapids.org
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