Agenda 12/09/2025 Item #16H 1 (Chair to sign a letter designating the Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, Inc. as the agent for the purpose of applying for and receiving funds from the Crime Stoppers Trust Fund.)12/9/2025
Item # 16.H.1
ID# 2025-4891
Executive Summary
Recommendation to authorize the Chair to sign a letter designating the Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, Inc., a non-
profit agency, as the agent for the purpose of applying for and receiving funds from the Crime Stoppers Trust Fund.
OBJECTIVE: To provide funding to the Crime Stoppers program.
CONSIDERATIONS: Crime Stoppers is a program designed to solve crime with the help of concerned citizens. This
effective program asks community members to help fight crime by supplying leads and information through anonymous
telephone calls and on-line computer/web tips. Rewards are paid for tips that lead to the arrest and conviction of
criminal offenders. Crime Stoppers is solely funded by donations and grants.
To receive grants from the Attorney General's Crime Stoppers Trust Fund, a letter from a chapter's County Board of
County Commissioners must assign the chapter as an agent for the county for the purpose of applying for and receiving
grant funds. The letter will need to be updated every three (3) years (Last updated March 24, 2020). The proposed letter
is included as back-up to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no Growth Management Impact associated with this action.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney. Florida Statutes Sec. 16.555
provides in relevant part as follows:
16.555 Crime Stoppers Trust Fund
5(b) Funds deposited in the trust fund pursuant to paragraph (4)(b) shall be disbursed as provided in this paragraph.
A county may apply to the department under s. 938.06 for a grant from the funds collected in the judicial circuit in
which the county is located. A grant may be awarded only to counties that are served by an official member of the
Florida Association of Crime Stoppers and may be used only to support Crime Stoppers and its crime fighting
programs. Only one such official member is eligible for support within any county. To aid the department in
determining eligibility, the secretary of the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers shall furnish the department with
a schedule of authorized crime stoppers programs and shall update the schedule as necessary. The department shall
award grants to eligible counties from available funds and shall distribute funds as equitably as possible, based on
amounts collected within each county, if more than one county is eligible within a judicial circuit.
This item is approved as to form and legality and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATION(S): That the Board authorizes the Chairman to sign the attached letter designating the
Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, Inc. as the agent for the purpose of applying for and receiving funds from the
Attorney General's Crime Stoppers Trust Fund.
PREPARED BY: Burt Saunders, Commissioner, District 3 and BCC Chairman
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2025 Letter - new logo
Page 6787 of 9661
Page 6788 of 9661