Have you ever witnissed something which tugged at your inner being to ‘get involved’ only to have your mind and the logic of 21st Century American life prevent you from acting?

I’ve been in line at the market while parents abuse their children verbally. I know this ‘verbal abuse’ line is much overused but sometimes it’s just true. I wanted to say, “Hey! You’re screwing up that childs mind! Cut it out! You call yourself a mother? A mother raises a child to become a healthy, helpful member of society… a person of great value! What do you want this child to grow up to be? A pathetic loser?” But no amount of editing my little intended speech would suffice or prevent me from some kind of harrassment lawsuit… so instead I grit my teeth and wait my turn in line.

I was driving into Milton (the town I love) a few months ago and I was behind a white car at the light on Route 1 at Route 16. The two men in the car were passing a marijuana cigarette back and forth as they waited for the green arrow. I was right behind them in a full-sized van and could easily see what was happening and they didn’t care. I grabbed my phone to dial 911 but stopped. First thing I thought was, “Is this an emergency?” 911 is for emergencies only. I’ve heard of people being fined or arrested for misusing 911. Second thought I had was, “I’m in a clearly marked van. This is my only income. If these guys get their pot taken away or arrested because of me, would they retaliate?” As I was going the same direction they were I waited to see where they went and sure enough they were headed to an apartment complex 3 blocks from my home and office. I didn’t call the Milton Police.

This has been eating at me since it happened. Then I wondered, do they (you know who “they” are, those other people) still have one of those anonymous Crime Tip Lines? Well, a little internet searching and voila! So for anyone else out there who struggles between knowing the right thing to do and going through life without a retaliatory home-invasion resulting in personal dismemberment.. I am supplying the info on Delaware’s Crimestoppers Tip Line! Please add this number to your cell phones and keep one by the home phone.

Their website says that they do NOT have caller ID. Here is more form their site:

Delaware Crime Stoppers is a Non-Profit Organization with a Federal Tax Exempt Status. Delaware Crime Stoppers is recognized by the Delaware Better Business Bureau and the United Way of Delaware.

Delaware Crime Stoppers receives funds from the State of Delaware, the Attorney General’s SLEAF fund, and by raising 20% of their budget with fundraising activities and contributions.

Delaware Crime Stopper’s major goal is to work with every law enforcement agency in the State of Delaware, in an effort to collect criminal information that will result in arrests and result in the solving of cases.

Delaware Crime Stoppers operates a 1-800-TIP-3333 Phone Line and a Cell Phone *TIPS line, and encourages people with information about a crime or criminal to call. The Hot Lines are toll free from any place in Delaware and Delaware Crime Stoppers makes two guarantees: 1. We will pay up to $1,000 in Cash Reward if the information in the Tip is substantial in an arrest being able to be made and, 2. You will not have to identify yourself when you call.

As of December 2004, Delaware Crime Stoppers has paid out in excess of $175,000.00 dollars in rewards. As a result of calls to Delaware Crime Stoppers, over 2000 arrests have occurred and over $3,000,000.00 in stolen property and drugs have been seized/or recovered.

Delaware Crime Stoppers has advertising posters in every public high school in Delaware. The theme, Drugs and Guns in School, That’s Not Cool. Since 1997, calls to our Hot Line in regard to School problems have resulted in several cases being solved. As a result of calls from our high schools, a serious arson was solved and drugs and weapons have been removed from our schools. We are now going to the Private and Middle Schools.

Delaware Crime Stoppers hosts a “Friends of Law and Order Golf Tournament” and proceeds go to provide college scholarships for three Del. Tech. students who want to become police officers.

So, while I do not want people calling the tip line for stupid mothers at the grocery store, I do think it is wise to be vigilant about crime in our own neighborhoods.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 4th, 2007 at 2:09 pm and is filed under Crime. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.