Students from Good Hope Country Day School partnered with Crime Stoppers USVI to install signs notifying residents of the tip services hotline.
In 2017, Crime Stoppers USVI identified the street signs as an initiative that would impact the entire territory and bring awareness of the anonymous tip hotline to all residents and visitors, according to a news release issued Monday by the V.I Police Department. After finalizing the design, securing funding and receiving approval from the Department of Public Works, 235 signs were installed around the island of St. Croix with the assistance of the students.
The students were participating in Good Hope Country Day School’s 42nd Mini-Gusto program, which provides out-of-classroom opportunities for students to immerse themselves in activities, internships and community service. A dozen students elected to work with their teacher, Laurie Dunton, the chairwoman of Crime Stoppers Laurie Dunton, Crime Stoppers’ Law Enforcement Liaison Daniel Rodriguez, to complete the installation. The students were instrumental in identifying the locations of each sign and used GPS to map their location for future reference by DPW, according to the news release.
The signs provide residents with the anonymous Tip Hotline Number, 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) and remind the community that cash rewards are paid for information leading to the arrest of an individual, seizure of drugs or weapons and recovery of stolen property. Tips can also be submitted online at the Crime Stoppers website and on the free P3 mobile app.
Signs will also be installed on St. Thomas and St. John in the coming weeks, the police statement said.
