Ending the Cycle of Abuse

In partnership with Verizon Wireless, a press conference was hosted Monday at Crime Stoppers HQ to celebrate the launch of the annual Domestic Violence Prevention Campaign.   

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Verizon Wireless, and the Verizon Foundation joined Crime Stoppers to prevent Domestic Violence through education and fugitive apprehension. 

“Through the Verizon Foundation, we are very excited to partner with Crime Stoppers in support of the Catch a Culprit Domestic Violence Prevention Campaign with a grant of $15,000,” stated Verizon Wireless Director of Sales Tyrone Rice. “Through the combined efforts of Verizon Wireless and organizations like Crime Stoppers, we hope to diminish domestic violence and help victims regain safety and control over their lives.”

 

Throughout the course of the campaign, Crime Stoppers will feature fugitives at large in Houston, wanted for Domestic Violence-related crimes.  In addition to this apprehension operation, Crime Stoppers will continue to raise public awareness through educational events and appearances. 

Monday’s press conference highlighted the month long campaign details, and included a surprise announcement from the Verizon HopeLine program.  “Verizon’s HopeLine Hero’s Award honors individuals who have made an exceptional commitment to the prevention of Domestic Violence, and compassion toward victims,” lauded Mr. Rice. “Today Verizon Wireless would like to honor Sheriff Garcia with this award.”

After accepting the award on behalf of the dedicated deputies of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Adrian Garcia heeded a warning for all Domestic Violence perpetrators at large in Harris County. 

“This type of behavior, this type of ideology,” Garcia said, “is not tolerated in this society, at least not in Harris County.  We’ll put you in jail; we’ll put you in jail fast.”

Such is the aim of Crime Stoppers’ annual campaign.  Throughout the course of the initiative, Crime Stoppers will continue to engage the public for information regarding the location of Domestic Violence felony offenders.  Anyone with information about Domestic Violence offenders is asked to contact the Crime Stoppers tip line at (713) 222-TIPS (8477).

Beyond the scope of this apprehension program lays the heart of Crime Stoppers’ mission: to prevent crime.  As Crime Stoppers Executive Director Katherine Cabaniss explained, “The most important part of this campaign is preventing these crimes.  Getting the word out to men and women, that Domestic Violence is not going to be tolerated here in our jurisdiction.  We are here to interrupt the cycle of violence. 

“Verizon Wireless knows, and Hopeline knows that one call can save a life.”  

Champions for Change Build a Safer Future

Crime Stoppers and its community partners celebrated the launch of its exciting new campaign, Champions for Change, Thursday at the Omni Houston Hotel.  Champions for Change Provides Houston leaders with the opportunity to make an impact in their community by building a safer future for their families, friends and neighbors.  Champions stand at the forefront of the war on crime by making a personal commitment to Crime Stoppers' mission to solve and prevent serious crime in Houston.  

Thursday's launch and reception was attended by the founding members of Champions for Change; true leaders invested in the safety and well being of our community.  Founding Champions include Mayor Annise Parker, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, and former Mayor Bill White.  

Scroll through the photos below to take a look into today's reception attended by the media, law enforcement and the community!  

Mayor Annise Parker addressing the media

Mayor Annise Parker during remarks Thursday

Crime Stoppers board member Ann Travis
chairs the Champion's for Change Campaign 

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia joins Champions on Thursday 

Ann Travis presents Sheriff Garcia with a
commemorative plate

Mayor Annise Parker receives her engraved
gift from Ann Travis

Sheriff Garcia entertaining follow up with Houston media

Mayor Parker is surrounded by reporters
during the Champions for Change reception

Your founding Champions for Change celebrated at Thursday's
Campaign Launch

 To become a Champion for Change visit: http://crime-stoppers.org/Files/Champions%20For%20Change%20Brochure.pdf

 

WANTED: HARRIS COUNTY CELL STORE CROOKS

Investigators throughout Harris County are searching for the suspects who have terrorized local cellular retailers over the course of the past year.  Armed with the brazen confidence that their masked faces and precision technique will keep them out of jail, hoards of thieves have victimized stores across a 1700 square mile area. 

“We have these thugs in our midst, and we want them in the Harris County Jail.” States Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.  “We want you to use your phone to drop a dime on these cell phone thieves.”

Sheriff Garcia took the podium during a Crime Stoppers news conference on Wednesday, June 27, 2012, to address the multiple burglaries throughout our region.  Offenders have targeted cell phone stores between the hours of 2:00 and 5:00 am.  Spending only minutes inside the businesses, criminals have displayed little concern for the alarm systems activating. 

Between July 2011 and June 2012, at least eighty one incidents have occurred.  At a rate of one offense every four days, these criminals have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in loss to the retailers.

Due to the dramatic impact these crime impose, Crime Stoppers has announced an increased reward in the cases.  Up to $15,000 dollars is being offered for information leading to the filing of felony charges or the arrest of the suspects involved. “We are proud to offer this increased reward in partnership with our area retail partners, and our partner Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia,” remarked Crime Stoppers Executive Director Katherine Cabaniss.

In a twist of criminal irony, Garcia hopes that the very cell phones stolen by these suspects will be essential in identifying and arresting them.  Promoting the Harris County Sheriff’s smart phone app “IWATCH Harris County” as a direct link to submitting tips to Crime Stoppers, Sheriff Garcia insisted that twenty first century technology can lead to the suspect’s apprehension.  “Every day, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office is creating new partnerships and innovations to keep us safe,” said Garcia. 

Anyone with information about the identity of any of the suspects is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-TIPS (8477).  Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637).  All tipsters remain anonymous.

2012 Harris County Peace Officer's Memorial Photo Essay

Crime Stoppers of Houston was proud to host the 2012 Harris County Peace Officer's Memorial Ceremony.  The following photo essay chronicles the moving event.

Set up began in the early morning in front of Crime Stoppers HQ

Harris County Honor Guard awaiting inspection

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia inspects his Honor Guard

Beating of the drums during the Memorial Roll Call

Deputies stand and salute Harris County's Fallen Officers

Sheriff Adrian Garcia and Crime Stoppers Executive Director
Katherine Cabaniss following the evening ceremony

Precinct 6 Deputy Constable presents the  colors

Safe Child Initiative Delivers Results

Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Katherine Cabaniss
and HCSO Criminal Warrant Teams

April’s focus was on child abuse prevention for Crime Stoppers of Houston.  The Sixth Annual Safe Child Initiative worked to keep Houston’s children safe where they live, learn and play.  Throughout the month, Crime Stoppers engaged in an educational campaign to prevent child abuse in Houston, and apprehend offenders at large throughout the community.  This year, the Safe Child Initiative resulted in the arrest of more fugitives than in all of the previous initiatives combined.

One hundred and sixty one offenders that may have otherwise remained at large were apprehended as a direct result of the combined efforts of Crime Stoppers and local law enforcement.  Their charges ranged from DWI with a Child Passenger to the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child.  Each of the fugitive offenders was apprehended during the month long warrant sweep conducted by Crime Stoppers’ law enforcement partners in the Houston Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and the US Marshal’s Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force.

It was an honor to work our law enforcement officers in this initiative. As a result of their hard work, one hundred and sixty one felons are off the streets, and no longer hiding in our neighborhoods.

Eight hundred and forty seven fugitives were featured through Crime Stoppers media programs and on the Crime Stoppers website www.crime-stoppers.org.  Ten percent of the fugitives selected as the Crime Stoppers “Feature Fugitives” released to local media were arrested based off of tips called into Crime Stoppers.

One such fugitive was Howard Huffman.  Huffman was charged with the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under 14 after assaulting a female child while she slept.  His whereabouts remained unknown to authorities with an active warrant for his arrest.

On April 11, 2012, Huffman’s profile was released to the local media as a Crime Stoppers “Feature Fugitive.”  The very next day, a tip was received by Crime Stoppers placing Huffman in Phoenix, Arizona.  Deputies with the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force coordinated with US Marshals in Arizona, and apprehended Huffman on April 25, 2012.  Four additional out of state arrests were made during the course of the initiative.

At the May 4^th celebratory press conference, hosted at Crime Stoppers Headquarters, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia commended the dedication of the teams responsible for these arrests.  “I’d like to applaud these crime fighters; these hunters of criminals.” Garcia went on to highlight the significance April’s Safe Child Initiative carries.  “Our children are our most precious resource,” said Garcia, “we will continue to put every resource toward keeping them safe.”

While the 2012 Safe Child Initiative has come to a close, Houston citizens are reminded that child predators and felony fugitives remain at large in our community.   Crime Stoppers reminds Houstonians to stay vigilant against crime throughout the year.  With that sentiment in mind, Houston Mayor Pro-Tem Ed Gonzalez cautioned citizens, “Just remember, child abuse continues year round… Keeping our children safe is something that we should always do.”

Programs such as the Annual Safe Child Initiative are at the core of Crime Stoppers’ mission to prevent serious crime in Harris County.  Continued efforts throughout the year will target other forms of serious crime, in an effort to keep Houstonians safe.     

FEATURED FUGITIVES - OFF THE STREETS

Crime Stoppers of Houston’s Safe Child Initiative launched on Monday April 2, 2012.  During the launch, Crime Stoppers ignited its campaign with the highlight of a felony fugitive, and a pledge to continue highlighting child abuse fugitives throughout the remainder of the month.

Rick Garcia was amongst a group of fugitives highlighted at the kick-off press conference on Monday April 2.  Garcia was charged with the Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under 14.  After viewing the media coverage of Monday’s press conference, and the scrutiny placed on his whereabouts, Garcia surrendered to law enforcement the very next day.  As of April 3, 2012 at 9:00 am, Garcia was in the custody of the Harris County Jail.

The first daily featured fugitive was Rafaela Medina, who was charged with the Abandonment of her Child with the Intent to Return.  This fugitive offender was highlighted by Crime Stoppers through a general media release on April 3, 2012.  Less than 48 hours after she was featured by the media, Medina was apprehended by law enforcement.  Medina was taken into custody based on information provided in a Crime Stoppers tip! An anonymous tipster to Crime Stoppers provided the location of Medina to law enforcement.  Medina is currently in the custody of the Harris County Jail.

Crime Stoppers’ 2012 Safe Child initiative will feature multiple fugitives through releases to the media, and hundreds more on the Crime Stoppers website www.crime-stoppers.org.  Please visit the Crime Stoppers website to see the 847 fugitives that are currently featured there and help to continue to bring in fugitives in our community.    

Giving Children a Safe Tomorrow

Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Council Member
Ed Gonzalez, Katherine Cabaniss,
Andy Kahan, Lee Vela

April 2, 2012– Crime Stoppers of Houston hosted a press conference at their midtown headquarters to announce the launch of the 2012 Safe Child Initiative.  This is the sixth consecutive campaign to keep Houston’s children safe since the inaugural initiative in 2007.

Executive Director Katherine Cabaniss introduced April’s initiative as “a one of a kind campaign to keep our children safe where they live, learn and play.” By educating citizens on child abuse prevention, and targeting fugitives charged with child abuse related crimes, Crime Stoppers aims to reduce incidents of child abuse throughout Harris County. “This is the most important initiative we will conduct all year, because it strives to keep our children safe.”

Cabaniss was joined by Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia and Houston City Council Member Ed Gonzalez.  Taking aim at perpetrators, Sheriff Garcia warned offenders that deputies are on the ready to apprehend fugitives at large.  “We’re gonna smash your door down.  We’re gonna grab you out of bed.  We’re gonna put you in jail.  We don’t need predators out in the community.”

Echoing Garcia’s sentiments, Council Member Gonzalez appealed to Houston’s citizens to break the cycle of abuse, and reduce incidents in Houston.  “This initiative is intended to bring to light the realities of these crimes.  It’s intended to teach citizens the signs of abuse, and prevent future incidents.”

In addition to providing educational materials to community members, Crime Stoppers will target more than 1,600 felony fugitives in Harris County. Council Member Gonzalez urged Houston citizens to be vigilant, and on the look out for offenders living in their neighborhoods. “They could be your family and neighbors,” stated Gonzalez.

The Safe Child Initiative will culminate with a screening of the film “Family Affair” at Studio Movie Grill on April 25, 2012.  This Safety Seminar will provide citizens an additional opportunity to learn about the impact of child abuse, and interact with a panel of topic experts.

Crime Stoppers’ 2012 Safe Child initiative will feature multiple fugitives through releases to the media and on the Crime Stoppers website www.crime-stoppers.org. Anyone with information about the location of these fugitives is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at (713) 222-TIPS (8477). 

Join Crime Stoppers this April to keep our kids safe!