BEAUMONT, Texas — Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas is one local nonprofit that continues to give back to the community.
The history of the program is rich, and how it became a successful program was the result of a tragedy.
Beginning in 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico Detective Greg MacAleese thought of an unusual way to try to solve the murder of a college student.
“He came up with the idea of reenacting the murder and the store owner came up with a reward and when they went to the media and put it on TV, within 72 hours, they caught three suspects," said Crime Stoppers Administrator and Campus Coordinator Jeremy Raley.
With the first success story in the books, the program was then turned into a nonprofit, and was soon adopted worldwide. In 1981 it was adopted in Southeast Texas.
“Prominent people in Beaumont decided that it was needed in Southeast Texas and so in 1981, Crime Stoppers of Beaumont was started that November," Raley said.
After being brought to Beaumont, the original name was Crime Stoppers of Beaumont. It recieved it's official name change to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas in1981.
Now Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas covers four counties, according to Raley.
This includes Orange County, Jefferson County, Hardin County and most recently Jasper County.
”Big growth over the last 40 some odd years," Raley said.
Raley, is the first person who sees a tip when it comes to Crime Stoppers.
“When you turn in that tip, that tip comes to me first, I then read the tip, see which department it has to go to,” he said.
The value of a tip is priceless, especially when it comes to the families of cold cases, which is why the program is so important.
”A lot of times our success stories are other people's tragedies, but it's bringing justice to those victims," said Raley.
Recently the program celebrated its 40th anniversary, and Raley had the opportunity to speak with MacAleese, the founder of the Crime Stoppers program.
“His insight of why he developed the program and what made him think about it was amazing to hear, that's part of history of the overall program," Raley told 12News.
Crime Stoppers has spread to Australia and even Europe, along with being adopted into local campuses in Southeast Texas.
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If you have information about a crime you could earn a cash reward of up to $1000 by providing an ANONYMOUS tip to Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas.
Call 833-TIPS (8477) or download the P3Tips App on your mobile device to submit your tip anonymously.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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