Why a Crime Commission?

Law enforcement agencies in today�s environment are incapable of coping with the magnitude of crime without the involved support of business, media and community.

Kansas City has had a highly successful Crime Commission for more than nine years. Known as the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission, it is a non-profit citizen?s organization supported by private contributions established to support and enhance the government law enforcement efforts in fighting crime in Kansas City . Its Board of Directors consists of volunteer business and civic leaders from the Kansas City metropolitan area. It is the parent organization for several projects, including the CrimeStoppers Tips Hotline program where anonymous tips help solve over 1,000 felony cases each year, and the Metropolitan Community Service Program, which has about 4,000 persons performing work for our community instead of serving time in already overcrowded jails at taxpayer�s expense. The Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission also promotes Project CEASEFIRE, a promotion aimed at educating others that it is illegal for convicted felons to possess a firearm.

St. Louis needs is to establish a similar organization for crime fighting efforts in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and the surrounding communities on both sides of the river. While the long range plans would encompass a variety of programs, the first project should be the establishment of a CrimeStoppers Tips Hotline. This program can demonstrate concrete results and will have an immediate impact on the crime level in our community.

Our law enforcement community is one of the best in the country. But more can be done to make our community as safe as possible. The Saint Louis Regional Crime Commission and the CrimeStoppers Tips Hotline can significantly contribute to this goal.

Members of the St. Louis Regional Crime Commission include: