Angela Kocherga Border

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Will new CrimeStoppers tip line translate to a safer Mexico?

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by ANGELA KOCHERGA / KVUE News border bureau

Posted on December 4, 2009 at 5:53 AM

Surely someone saw something that could help police catch the killers terrorizing the border city of Juarez.

The body count now tops 2,300 this year.

Many of the murders happen in broad daylight on busy streets, yet few people talk to the cops.

"We’re in the stage of rebuilding confidence in our police department, and while we do that we need somebody who the people can trust to take the calls and make sure anonymity will be kept," said Juarez' Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz.

So Juarez is launching the first Crime Stoppers program, not just in Mexico, but in all of Latin America. 

Many people in Juarez are familiar with the program. They've seen it work just across the border in El Paso. But, will that success translate to Mexico?

In this violent border city witnesses routinely refuse to come forward because they fear retaliation.

The challenge will be convincing the public that the calls they make to Crime Stoppers will remain confidential.

"They know how to clean up the information so that no information about who is giving the tip goes through," says Ferriz.

A student told us she does not feel comfortable enough to call the tip line. Her friends echoed her concern.

But, others are open.

Juarez resident  Eduardo Loera welcomes any outside help because he says what authorities have tried so far has done little to stop the bloodshed.

The tip line will work anywhere in Mexico. It will reach Spanish speakers at Crime Stoppers in the U.S. They will pass along the information to Mexican law enforcement agencies.

If the Juarez program is successful, it may expand to other parts of Mexico.

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Comments: Displaying 1 - 2 of 2

eyeamtheone said on December 4, 2009 at 1:27 PM

The only thing that will make Mexico is safer is when it becomes the 51st state

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samlowrey said on December 4, 2009 at 12:52 PM

Will the tip line be in English as well? What would really help these people is CLOSING THE BORDER. Mine it would be even better. Very cost effective. They do it in Israel and Korea. Why not here?

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