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                                                                                                                               Jessica Stead: 407-246-4059

City Commissioner follows through on support of Mayor’s Illegal Gun Bounty Program
Pays first reward

 
March 12, 2007, Orlando, FL – On March 5, 2007, Commissioner Robert Stuart, Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orlando Police Chief Mike McCoy presented a $1,000 check to Detective Barb Bergin of Central Florida Crimeline to pay the first reward of the Mayor’s Illegal Gun Bounty Program.  

Early last month, Commissioner Stuart pledged to fund the first reward and on Monday, he delivered on that promise after the Central Florida Crimeline Board of Directors approved a reward payout for a tip that resulted in numerous illegal guns being confiscated by law enforcement.  

“I was confident that the Mayor’s Illegal Gun Bounty Program would be a key ingredient to getting guns off of our streets and getting those who commit crimes behind bars—and with this payout, it is evident that this program is working,” Commissioner Stuart said.

The tip that came into Central Florida Crimeline resulted in the confiscation of illegal guns that were used in numerous armed robberies in Orlando and Orange County.  The guns have also led authorities to multiple suspects in these armed robbery cases.

“Our administration has been squarely focused on finding solutions to crime and opportunities to prevent it,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “The Illegal Gun Bounty program is a great tool to empower residents and get illegal guns out of the hands of criminals.”

The Illegal Gun Bounty program is a partnership between the City of Orlando, the Orlando Police Department and Central Florida Crimeline, an organization committed to helping law enforcement agencies solve crimes and keep our communities safe by motivating citizens to provide information on felony crimes while offering financial rewards and guaranteeing anonymity.

The program was announced on January 19 and already more than 95 tips for illegal guns have been called into Central Florida Crimeline and are being investigated by law enforcement.  A completely anonymous reward of $1000 is given to any person who provides a Crimeline tip that leads to an arrest, a confiscation of an illegal gun and a weapons charge.  

“The citizens of District 3 are very aware of the rising rate of violent crime in our community.  Each weapon removed, each criminal arrested, each felon behind bars means the streets of our city are safer,” emphasized Commissioner Stuart. “I would encourage our corporate and civic community to help with this project by funding just one reward.  And I am asking our citizens to do their part by calling in tips regarding illegal guns.”

For more information on the Mayor’s Illegal Gun Bounty program, call the Orlando Police Department at 407-246-2470, or check out Orlando’s web site (http://www.cityoforlando.net/).  To report an illegal gun, contact Central Florida Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (1-800-423-8477) or through their web site at www.crimeline.org.