Explanation
This ordinance funds Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, a non-profit organization working to fight crime in Columbus neighborhoods. The organization was formed locally in 1977 and provides citizens a means to give information to law enforcement agencies while remaining anonymous. It operates 24-hours a day. This funding is needed to accommodate the increasing number of tips being received on an annual basis: going from 843 in 2003 to nearly 2,200 in 2005 which led to 176 felony arrests. Councilmember Andrew Ginther sponsored $20,000 in support to the organization as part of City Council's 2008 budget amendments.
FISCAL IMPACT City Council allocates $20,000 from the Public Safety Initiatives fund to support the organization.
Title
To authorize and direct the appropriation of $20,000 within the Public Safety Initiatives Fund and to authorize and direct the Public Safety Director to enter into contract with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers to support its operations to provide citizens a means to give information to law enforcement agencies to help fight crime, to authorize the expenditure of $20,000 from the Public Safety Initiatives Fund ($20,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, City Council has amended the annual budget in each of the last four years to set aside funds in the Public Safety Initiatives Fund to address specific public safety challenges; and
WHEREAS, Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization working to help law enforcement agencies in Central Ohio fight crime; and
WHEREAS, the organization operates 24-hours a day and requires additional funding to accommodate the increasing number of tips being received on an annual basis: going from 843 in 2003 to nearly 2,200 in 2005 which led to 176 felony arrests; and
WHEREAS, Central Ohio Crime Stoppers currently operates with the oversight of a volunteer Executive Board and a volunteer General Board. The office is staffed and directed by a Columbus Division of Police...
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