Crime Stoppers speaks your language

Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers is offering a new service for non-English speaking tipsters.

In an effort to increase the number of tips they receive, Crime Stoppers has added a language translation service to their tip line. As of Sept. 24, Crime Stoppers operators have been given training on basic verbal communication in 18 common foreign languages including Arabic, French and Hindi. Operators have also received training on how to identify these common languages.

Const. Tim Murphy, police coordinator for Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers, said he has been working hard to get the service available in Windsor.

“There is no longer a language barrier with our program. We now have access to a greater number of tips to help us solve crimes here in the city,” said Murphy.

The new service is available in 200 languages. When an individual calls in with a tip, the operator will first identify the language. Crime Stoppers has additional staff available to help identify languages that do not fall into the 18 most commonly used. Once the language of the caller has been identified, the operator will place the caller on hold to reach a translator. The operator will then initiate a three-way call between the operator, the caller and the interpreter.

Windsorite and Mexican immigrant, Norman Hurtado, said the service will be beneficial to him and his family.

“Learning English has been difficult for my mother and father and they live in a rougher part of town. Being able to engage Crime Stoppers in Spanish allows them to report suspicious activity should they need to,” said Hurtado.

The addition of the language service is new for the program. In the past, operators would have to work through speaking with a tipster despite a language barrier.

The service is a pay-per-use for Crime Stoppers according to Ron Funkenhauser, events coordinator for Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers.

“One of the bridges we had to cross was making the program cost effective. With the system we have in place, we only pay for what we use,” said Funkenhauser.

The Crime Stoppers program is a non-profit organization and is funded by private donations and fund raising. Tips leading to an arrest can receive up to a $2,000 reward. To leave a tip for Crime Stoppers call 519-258-TIPS (8477).

 

 

 

Cut line: Det. Tim Murphy of Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers demonstrates their new language services. (PHOTO BY: James Zimmerman)