An Introduction to

                    WESLACO CRIME STOPPERS

  1989 - 2008

 

     Weslaco Crime Stoppers, Inc., is a non-profit tax-exempt organization dedicated to bringing criminals to justice.  This is accomplished through the use of a coordinator provided by the Weslaco Police Department.  This officer receives tips about crime and relays the information to the appropriate investigative agency, whether it be his department’s criminal investigations division, the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Public Safety, or another law enforcement organization. 

     All calls are kept confidential, with callers assigned a code number so that they may remain anonymous.  They are not asked to testify in court.  When an arrest and/or indictment of a suspect occurs, the coordinator, with the approval of the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors, pays a reward to the informant in cash.  Rewards range from $50 to $1,000, depending on the seriousness of the crime.

     Crime Stoppers started in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1976.  A police detective, named Greg MacAleese, was working on a murder case, did a re-enactment, and publicized a reward, offered by a local civic organization.  A tip was called in, a suspect was arrested, and the reward was paid.  Thus Crime Stoppers was born.

     Weslaco Crime Stoppers was founded in 1989 by a group of concerned Weslaco businesspersons who felt that our city needed to do more to fight crime.  A tragic crime in late 1988 was the catalyst that moved these citizens to action.  On Sunday night, November 13, 1988, Evan Squires, age 70, and his wife, Wilda, age 65, were asleep in their mobile home in Magic Valley Trailer Park, when they were apparently awakened by a noise.  They confronted intruders in their home and were both shot to death in cold blood.  Unfortunately, no arrests were ever made in the case, but the case remains open and any new leads will be investigated.

     In 1997, after Weslaco Crime Stoppers had experienced a brief period of inactivity, a newly hired police chief and a newly appointed Crime Stoppers coordinator got Weslaco Crime Stoppers moving again. A fresh board of directors took the reins, fundraising was done, and Weslaco Crime Stoppers was back in business.          

     Since the beginning of 1998, Weslaco Crime Stoppers has gradually built up its reputation, both with informants who supply the tips and the community at large.  Since its inception in 1989, tips to Weslaco Crime Stoppers have been responsible for the following:

No. of Arrests                                                      684

No. of Solved Cases                                           663

Total Rewards Paid                                             $145,925

Total Value of Narcotics Recovered                $23,245,511

                       

     Recent cases that Crime Stoppers’ tips have helped solve are the murder of Roberto Castro, age 14, and the killing of Eduardo Cruz, age 59. Roberto was shot to death in cold blood on August 23, at Murphy USA gas pumps. On August 24, one man, Victor Olivares, age 18, was apprehended and charged with capital murder.  Three other suspects have been identified, but have not been arrested and are believed to have fled to Mexico. In the case of Eduardo Cruz, whose body was found in his home on July 15, one suspect has been identified. The suspect is named Francisco Javier Gonzalez Rivera. Crime Stoppers tips were instrumental in the identification of this suspect, but he, too, is believed to be in Mexico.

     Weslaco Crime Stoppers, as a state-certified Crime Stoppers program, shares monthly probation fees from the Hidalgo County district courts with seven other county programs.  Eighty percent (80%) of this money has to be used for rewards payments.  Because these fees are shared among so many programs, the amount each month is minimal.   Other funds must be acquired through donations and fund-raising projects, to supplement the probation fees and to provide operating expenses. The City of Weslaco has been generous in contributing to Weslaco Crime Stoppers the last few years.

     On November 15, 2008, our 11th Annual Weslaco Crime Stoppers Golf Tournament will take place at Tierra Santa Golf Club, in Weslaco.  We are hoping for a successful tournament this year through the generosity of our sponsors. 

     Remember that Crime Stoppers is your organization.  It exists to make the streets of Weslaco a safer place for you and your loved ones.  You can help us with your financial support and the tips you call in to the tips line (968-8477) or leave on our new website at

www.weslacocrimestoppers.com .

 

      The Mission of Weslaco Crime Stoppers is to make Weslaco a safer and more pleasant place to live and work in by soliciting tips on crime and paying cash for that information, in order to help law enforcement  solve felony crimes.

     The Weslaco Crime Stoppers organization is governed by an 18-member board of individuals who either live or work in Weslaco. There are 4 officer positions: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer.