KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, Police Chief Rick Smith said the number of tips submitted to Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers has increased by 150 percent.
The chief said the increase came after a press conference announcing $25,000 rewards for information leading to an arrest in KCMO homicide cases.
Smith wrote in a blog post Monday that Crime Stoppers reported 58 new tips since the announcement.
In the prior month, there were just 23 tips submitted.
In the Kansas City metro as a whole, Crime Stoppers saw a 123 percent increase, month-over-month, in tips.
Smith said KCPD’s hope is the $25,000 reward will instill a fear in offenders of being turned in.
“Our hope is that the $25,000 reward will create so much fear of being turned in that those who might consider bringing a firearm along to solve a dispute or rob someone will think otherwise. Already, the numbers are showing that people are a lot more willing to share what they know for $25K,” Smith wrote in the post.
Smith said KCPD is working with partners on a multimedia campaign targeted at the areas of KCMO most affect by violence.
As part of the campaign, officers will be working at street-level to make sure people impacted by violent crimes know about the $25,000 reward.
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