ABOVE: Vermilion County Crime Stoppers president Chris Clapp (right) chats with Danville Alderwoman and mayoral candidate Tricia Teague (far left) during Thursday afternoon’s Vermilion County Gun Violence Prevention Committee meeting at the Danville Public Library.
Thursday afternoon (June 4th) was meeting number two for the latest addition to the Vermilion County Violence Prevention Coaltion; the Vermilion County Gun Violence Prevention Committee.
One of the guests was Vermilion County Crime Stoppers president Chris Clapp. One thing he wanted to make very clear was that when the public is invited to “come forward with information about a crime anonymously,” they do mean “anonymously.” It all works as a code system.
AUDIO: And when somebody calls 446-TIPS (8477), the phone number is actually answered in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. We do not want your personal information. All we want is the information that you may have in reference to a crime.
A big part of the committee meeting talked about streamlining a process for raising additional funding for Crime Stoppers, so that even more substantial awards can be offered for information. But as committee leader and state rep candidate Mary Catherine Roberson pointed out, there’s other things being worked on as well.
AUDIO: But our next step is we’re doing this community analysis of what programs are already in place to address violence, and then where are the gaps that exist between what we have and what best practice is recommended.
The committee’s next meeting will be Thursday, June 18th; 1 PM in the Public Library Conference Room.
A quick reminder from committee member Jamie Nightlinger from Project Success that Friday, June 5th is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and a “Wear Orange” event is scheduled for Friday evening.
AUDIO: And we’re going to stand with millions of people across the country, and wear orange, 6 to 8:30 PM at Laura Lee Fellowship House (212 East Williams). And they’ll be activities, some speakers, a video that the kids put together….
The “wear orange” movement was named in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, an honor student who was tragically shot and killed on a playground just a week after performing at President Obama’s second inauguration.
