CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – In December, the Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Board held their annual election of Executive Committee Members.

• Former Ward 2 Clarksville City Councilman Deanna McLaughlin was elected to the office of Chairman replacing former Ward 10 Clarksville City Councilman Bill Summers.
• US Army Veteran and current Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy Sheriff Brian Lynch was elected to the office of Vice-Chairman replacing current District 14 Montgomery County Commissioner Joshua Beal.
• CW5 (Ret) Doug Englen was elected to the office of Treasurer replacing Deanna McLaughlin.
• US Army Veteran, former police officer, and founder of the Crime Watch Clarksville Facebook Group Ryan Moeller was elected to the office of Secretary replacing Brian Lynch.
• Summers, Beal, McLaughlin, and Lynch vacated their previous Clarksville Montgomery Crime Stoppers officer positions due to having served the maximum two years allowed in the organization bylaws.

Other board members are Montgomery County Commissioner Joshua Beal, AAFES Regional Business Manager Christy Beenenga, Clarksville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Volunteer Judy Keppeler, State of Tennessee Special Investigator Kaylah Pate, Assistant City Attorney Neil Stauffer, Assistant District Attorney Robert J. Nash, Former Ward 10 Clarksville City Councilman Bill Summers, and Planters Bank Vice President of Commercial Banking Wes Sumner.

Under the leadership of previous Chairman Bill Summers, Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers successfully launched the Crime Stoppers Information Kiosk Program. The program was made possible through partnerships with Austin Peay State University, the City of Clarksville, Montgomery County, and Walmart. There are currently five kiosks in operation throughout Clarksville to include: Austin Peay State University’s Morgan University Center, the Clarksville Transit Center, the Montgomery County Courts Complex, Fort Campbell Blvd Walmart, and the Wilma Rudolph Blvd Walmart.

The kiosk systems allow Clarksville Montgomery Crime Stoppers and local law enforcement agencies to send real-time community alerts, notifications, and warnings to each of the kiosks simultaneously.

Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers operates separately from the emergency telephone number system or other standard methods of contacting police. This allows a person to provide crime-solving assistance to the authorities without being directly involved in the investigation process.

The authorities, especially the police, sometimes rely on information from the community about criminal activities or events. Crime Stoppers was developed to enable the public to participate without fear of reprisal and to make it easier for witnesses to volunteer information anonymously. Calls are received at the local Crime Stoppers tips line phone, 931-645-TIPS. This phone is a stand-alone instrument that does not provide caller ID, and conversations are not recorded.

The Crime Stoppers Coordinator receiving the information completes the tip information form, makes initial inquiries, and then passes the information to the investigating officer. Calls are accepted regarding any publicized request for information, or other crime(s) the caller has knowledge of. By guaranteeing a caller’s anonymity Crime Stoppers allows the caller to give information in a positive atmosphere without the prospect of retribution. By offering cash rewards for information leading to indictment or arrests, the program encourages otherwise reluctant callers to provide information.

Tips can also be submitted electronically through the Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Website.

Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers also posts calls for assistance or tips on the organization’s Facebook page.

Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers is a 501c3 non-profit organization that is funded by private donations and fundraising, tax dollars are not involved. The reward money paid out by the program is from the fundraising and donations from concerned citizens and businesses.

To become part of Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers or for more information visit www.clarksvillecrimestoppers.com