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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.6 Secret Witness Program CITY .OF DUBLIN AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: January 23, 1989 SUBJECT Secret Witness Program EXHIBITS ATTACHED Proposed Agreement Memorandum from Detective Sergeant DiFranco RECOMMENDATIONS Approve Agreement and Authorize City Manager to Execute Agreement FINANCIAL STATEMENT: $1 ,000 per year,. based upon 4 cents per capita per year with a minimum of $1 ,000 for cities with a population under 25,000. Sufficient funds are available .in FY 88-89 Budget DESCRIPTION The WeTip Secret Witness program was formed in October 1983. It is an established, successful, nonprofit, tax exempt, nationwide crime fighting corporation. WeTip was designed to take anonymous information on drug related activity and has expanded to cover all types of crime. WeTip provides a viable service to law enforcement agencies, with 35 highly trained operators that work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week taking anonymous information. Tips requiring immediate action will be tele- phoned into local law enforcement and fire agencies within moments of being received. A facsimile transmittal of the tip received will then be sent within 24 hours. WeTip will also provide computerized scanning and sorting of information with regard to wanted persons and/or M.O. ' s on specific major crimes in any area of the United States. WeTip services include: -- Toll free telephone service -- Promotional campaign -- Solicitation of information on specific crimes -- Distribution of rewards A full description of the services are outlined in the WeTip agreement. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ,COPIES TO: , ITEM NO. � BOARD OF DIRECTORS Elected Volunteers BILL BROWNELL Founder,WeTIP 'Executive Director .. Rancho Cucamonga JAMES W.VIGNEAU President WeTIP Northrop Corporation Hawthorne MIRIAM BROWNELL Secretary,WeTIP Assistant Director Rancho Cucamonga JOELVARN WITNESS ANONYMOUS Treasurer,WeTIP State Farm Insurance CITY/COUNTY GOVERNMENT MEMBERSHIP AGREEMENT Costa Mesa VICE PRESIDENTS DONALD BEST This agreement made and effective as of Vice PresidentCPP/Pinkerton between WeTip, Incorporated, a non-profit corporation Van Nuys RICHARD BOSTED (hereinafter called WETIP) , and U.S.Slate Department Washington,DC (hereinafter called MEMBER) , concerns membership in the BRYAN RNEY Acccount ount Manager,Unisys Municipal/Local Government Crime Prevention Program Los Angeles (hereinafter called PROGRAM) . Relative to this PROGRAM and WAYNE E.GRAY U.S.Postal Inspector resulting membership fees , ' the parties hereto agree as San Bruno/San Francisco JAMES IAMURRI follows Deputy Supervisor Los Angeles WILLIAM KING 1 . Toll -free Telephone Service Attorney at Law Los Angeles DENNIS IER District Attorney torney p WETIP will maintain nationwide toll -free telephone San Bernardino County lines for receipt of information from MEMBER' S citizens , CHIEF ROGER MOULTON Police Department and others who have information concerning criminal Reeonoo Beach MARTIN R.PHI LPOTT activity related to MEMBERS' S jurisdiction. These lines Canoga Treasury Park et) will be staffed 24 hours per day y trained operators . Canoga Park y DENNISTILTON Attorney at Law San Bernardino Information received about crimes concerning persons , TERRYZIEGLER i c 1 O n will 1 University Southern California activities or property within MEMBER' S j u r i s d : Los Angeles be supplied to the appropriate law enforcement and fire MEMBERSHIP protection a encies . COMMITTEE P g SYSIL BRAND Chairman.I.I.C. PHILIPABBOTT 2 . Promotional Campaign Motion Picture/TV Actor EDARNOLD Sportscaster WETIP will provide MEMBER with a basic set of generic SCOTT CARPENTER AstrOnauVAquanaut p romotional materials . In addition, WETIP will assist EARLCLARK MEMBER in designing a customized Witness Anonymous United Transportation Union IRON EYES CODY promotion/publicity campaign for use within MEMBER' S Motion Picture/TV Actor jurisdiction . Permission is granted for use of the ED COSSART Pacific Telephone WeTip/Witness Anonymous names , logos , and toll-free NICHOLAS COUS Coussoulis Development opment Co. telephone numbers in promotional materials and DR.HOWARD EARLE advertisements . The WeTip, Inc . name and logo must always Prctessor,Cal-State LA TOM FRANDSEN be used in conjunction with the WeTip toll-free telephone dice President Channel 9 number in the same size and mode . However, WETIP reserves PETER GRAVES Motion Picture/TV Actor the right of final approval on the teat of such materials GEORGE KENNEDY Motion Picture/TV Actor to ensure that the operation of the PROGRAM is accurately RANDOLPH MANTOOTH represented and consistent with the national campaign . Motion Picture/TV Actor KENT McCORD WETIP will also cooperate with MEMBER (as requested) in Motion Picture/TV Actor press conferences , press released, and related publicity MARTIN MILNER 'lotion Picture/TV Actor activities . GREG MORRIS Motion Picture/TV Actor ROBERTSTACK Motion Picture/TV Actor HARRY D.STONE Consultant Attorney at Law - FOREST TENNANT,Dr.P.H. Community Health Projects Business Office • P.O. Box 1296 • Rancho Cucamonga,CA 91730-8296 • (714)987-5005 • FAX(714)987-2477 3 . Solicitation of Information on Specific Crimes WETIP , as requested, will assist MEMBER' S law enforcement and fire protection agencies in obtaining information concerning specific crimes which have occurred affecting MEMBER' S employees , operations , or property . This assistance will include : a) permission to use generic WETIP materials so- liciting information on specific crimes b) permission to design, print , and distribute customized materials soliciting information on a specific crime . WETIP reserves the right of approval on the text of such materials to ensure that the operation of the PROGRFK is accurately represented c) requesting appropriate elements of the news media to run visual , oral , and printed (as appropriate) solicitations for information on the crime. d) requesting television stations in the general vicinity of the location of the crime, which are participating in the "Evewitness Anonymous" program, to solicit information via this program. (This service is generally reserved for major crimes . ) This service shall always be provided in cooperation with appropriate law enforcement and fire protection agency representatives . 4 . Distribution of Rewards WETIP will provide and distribute rewards , ranging from $25 to $1 , 000 to MEMBER' S citizens and others providing information on criminal activity within MEMBER' S jurisdiction. These rewards will be distributed on an anonymous basis using WETIP"S established network . A reward will be paid only upon conviction. 5 . Extraordinary Rewards WETIP now also has a system to pay Extraordinary Rewards ( from $1 , 000 to $100 ,000 ) . These rewards are paid with CONFIDENTIALITY through local banks . These rewards are to be sponsered by LOCAL DONORS . 6 . Disposition Information MEMBER agrees to provide disposition information ( e . g . , reprimand, arrest , or conviction) to WETIP in a routine and timely manner . 7 . Entire Agreement This AGREEMENT constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of and between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior representations and agreements . It shall not be varied by any oral agreements or representations or otherwise except by an instrument in writing or subsequent date hereto duly executed by authorized representatives of the parties . The section and paragraph headings herein are for convenience only and shall not limit in any way the scope of any provision of the Agreement . 8 . Notices Any notice, demand, request , statement , or other writing required or permitted by this AGREEMENT shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given when personally delivered or mailed by certified or registered United States mail , postage prepaid, addressed as follows : MEMBER (project liaison) WETIP Miriam Brownell/Assistant Director P .O. Box 1296 Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730-1296 9 . Termination Membership in the PROGRAM may be terminated by MEMBER upon written notice to WETIP . Such termination will become effective 30 days after the receipt of such notice by WETIP . Membership may be cancelled by WETIP only upon occurrence of the following condition: a) MEMBER produces PROGRAM materials which have not been approved by WETIP under Sections 1 and 3 of this AGREEMENT . Membership fees are not refundable, in whole or in part . 10 . Renewal This AGREEMENT shall automatically renew on each annual anniversary date unless either party notifies the other party of its intent to not renew the AGREEMENT . This notification shall be in writing_ and received by the other party at least 30 calendar days prior to the anniversary date . 11 . Membership Fee Upon execution of this AGREEMENT, MEMBER will pay to WETIP the sum of $ 1 ,000 . 00 , which is the membership fee for the period of this AGREEMENT. Executed on , 19 , at , MEMBER (Printed/typed name of MEMBER) (Printed/typed name and title of officer of MEMBER executing agree- ment) By (Signature of officer of MEMBER executing agreement) WETIP By (Printed/typed name and title of officer of WETIP executing AGREEMENT) (Signature of officer of WETIP executing AGREEMENT) MEMORANDUM Date : December 19, 1988 From: Det/Sgt D. DiFRANCO #534 To : Lt . James D'. ROSE Subject : WeTip Program I have completed an extensive investigation of police information and reward programs now in operation in the state and nation. There are several options open to us, the best of which is the WeTip program. This program has been in existence since 1972 and serves several business and dozens of law enforcement agencies . It is a non-profit organization of civilians set up to act as a third party in obtaining information. The basic operation is that of a phone center and information clearing house . If a member organization has a felony case that is in need of leads or further information, the investigation may contact WeTip by phone or mail and acquaint them with the case . WeTip will arrange for publicity and publication via the print or video media . They will create posters and flyers as needed and help in distribution. The typical media release will contain information the investigator wants made public and the nation wide WeTip number . When an informant calls in, they are advised not to give their name and are given a code number for identification. The information about the case is written down and forwarded to the appropriate agency. If the information leads to an arrest and conviction the WeTip organization will contact the informant via the media and advise him/her to contact WeTip. The WeTip board will decide what the appropriate reward should be for the case and forward it by postal money order to the Post Office of the informants choice . The reward is then payed in cash by the Post Master . This system keeps the Police from being involved in contact with funds and fund raising. If donations are made to fund the program, they can be made to the non-profit WeTip organization. WeTip may at their option do some community fund raising. The cost for this service is four cents per person of population in the police agencies jurisdiction. This would translate to about $900 . 00 based on the current population level of Dublin . This would be less expensive than setting up a program and administrating it as in the case of volunteers or a payed answering service . There are additional benefits to be had from this program. The WeTip agency acts as a nation wide clearing house for wanted information. In the event we have a major crime with no clues, they will match up our information with other similar reports in their computer . This will be of assistance if we are victimized by a serial or highly mobile criminal . WeTip has a new Extraordinary Reward Program for major crimes when large sums of money are donated for the arrest and conviction of the suspect . This program is for rewards of over $5000 . 00 . and includes establishing a donor reward fund, disposition of the interest accrued on the fund according to the donor 's wishes, and payment of the reward in person if necessary. Rewards of this amount must be reported to the IRS . WeTip has a mechanism in place to fulfill this requirement . I suggest this department give WeTip a one year trial and evaluate the usefulness of its service at the end of that period .