|
No matter how well equipped
or effective a local law enforcement agency may be, it cannot function
successfully without the cooperation and involvement of its local community
members. Silent Observer is a vital component in our community's fight
against crime.
Since 1972, area citizens have provided information
to Silent Observer that has resulted in the convictions of hundreds
of criminals.
One of the major benefits of the program is its ability
to protect the identity of the person reporting the crime. With no fear
of reprisals or police involvement, all citizens can take an active
role in the safety of their community.
Even though most tips don't lead to arrests, many contain
crucial information to police investigations. Some tips provide police
with missing pieces or alert them to new activity on the streets. Most
importantly, Silent Observer offers citizens the ability to take back
their neighborhood.
Silent Observer is a non-profit organization supported by
contributions from concerned individuals, local business
and community organizations. Help support Silent Observer
in its efforts to solve crime and make our community
safer.
Send your donations to:
Silent Observer
PO Box 230321
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49523
For more information please e-mail us: info@silentobserver.org
2011 Year in Review
During the past year, Silent Observer authorized rewards totaling
$14,585 to individuals who provided law enforcement personnel within
Kent and Ottawa counties with information that led to the arrest of
suspects charged with the following crimes:
| Crime |
Arrests |
Cases Cleared |
| Armed Robbery |
1 |
2 |
| Assault |
2 |
2 |
| Assault with Intent to Murder |
2 |
1 |
| Burglary Home |
|
2 |
| Criminal Sexual Conduct |
2 |
4 |
| Hit and Run |
1 |
1 |
| Homicide |
3 |
2 |
| Kidnapping |
3 |
2 |
| Larceny |
2 |
3 |
| Misdemeanor Narcotics |
2 |
2 |
| Misdemeanor Traffic Tickets |
1 |
1 |
| Narcotics |
27 |
34 |
| Other |
5 |
8 |
| Probation/Parole Violations |
4 |
5 |
| Robbery |
1 |
1 |
| Underage Drinking Party |
7 |
4 |
| Warrants |
24 |
44 |
Total |
88 |
117 |
Total Value of recovered cash, property, and drugs amounted
to: $356,536
Number of Fugitives captured based on tips: 9
Some of the crimes Silent Observer tips
assisted law enforcement with include:
| A man committed robberies of businesses, including Burger King and Next Door Foods along with Amoco, Shell and Speedway Gas Stations. The suspect, most likely stealing because of a crack addiction, implied he had a gun. Thanks to a tip to Silent Observer, that man was arrested before he could frighten more service people. Another man who actually showed his weapons and robbed five businesses-Little Caesars, 7-Eleven, Ziggy's Party Store and two Shell Stations was arrested because of a tip to Silent Observer. |
After stepping off a bus, a man was attacked by two suspects who beat him then stole his laptop computer, a computer case and his Bible. The suspects wanted some quick cash and thought the laptop would be just the ticket. A tip came into Silent Observer identifying the suspects. |
Silent Observer received four tips this past year which led the FBI and the US Marshal Fugitive Task Force to some of the worst of the worst. These suspects had warrants for Assault with Intent to Do Great Bodily Harm, Criminal Sexual Conduct with a minor, drugs, and felony firearm. |
Silent Observer received a tip on a man in possession of child pornography. He had a substantial amount of child porn on his computer and it turned out that he had two prior Criminal Sexual Conduct convictions in the 1990’s involving 9 year-old girls. |
| Back in 2006, Linzey Reeves was murdered. Early on in the investigation Silent Observer received a tip that identified the shooter. Police just recently were able to arrest the suspect. |
Car Larcenies occur all over the city and wreak havoc on the neighborhoods that are targeted. Thanks to a tip to Silent Observer, police were able to arrest one person for breaking into up to 20 cars stealing anything of value. |
| One very observant tipster called to report some suspicious people in the neighborhood. The tipsters provided descriptions of the suspects, their license plate number and described the items the thieves were putting in their car after being in the neighborhood a while. It turns out this tip led to three suspects involved in home burglaries and one of the suspects was even involved in an armed robbery of a Subway Restaurant. |
| An unidentified woman, caught on a surveillance camera, stole a credit card and a driver’s license then went to a Chase Bank located in a Meijer Store and withdrew more than $9,000 from the victim's checking account. A citizen saw the picture and called Silent Observer which led to her arrest. |
Silent Observer's Fast 50 School Program
|
Students using the Fast 50 Program have increased as
well. Currently the Program is in place in over 65 Middle
and High Schools throughout the county. This program
allows our students to report incidences of drugs, weapons,
vandalism, threats of violence, and major theft in their
school anonymously. If the contraband is recovered,
they can earn a reward. As with the regular Silent Observer
Program, not all students claim their reward. Many feel
it is their civic responsibility to help keep their
school community a safe and secure environment. |
|
Follow us on facebook!
