Untitled

INTRO
Executive Board
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Sponsorships
Marketing/Fundraising
Membership Committee
Member-at-Large
Member-at-Large
Dale Mendoza
Dave Knott
Debbie Rompal
Ken Groom
James Arendt
Shawn Betts
Gary Quisenberry
Matt Rosenfeld
Sterling Swartout
Board Members
Bruce Batti
Sonja Beffort
Jeff Davis
Rachelle Dyson
Glenna Gates
Jeff Gledhill
Jerry Gragnani
Debbie Hunsaker
William Kidd
Dina Legari
Harry Massucco
Beth McCracken
Scott Miller
Donna Silva
Jerry Steward
Staff and Agency Representatives
Program Administrator
Susan Blaze
Fresno Police Department
Det. Brad Stevens
Fresno Police Department
Deputy Chief, Patrol, Keith Foster
Fresno County Sheriff’s Office
Cpt. Robert Kandarian
Fresno County Sheriff’s Office
CSO Milton Vann
Clovis Police Department
Lt. Dan Sullivan
Clovis Police Department
Sgt. Keith Sparrow
Madera County Sheriff’s Office
Erica Stuart, PIO
California Highway Patrol
Lt. Steve Robinson
California Highway Patrol
Cpt. Malkiat Samra
2
A citizen-run nonprofit organization,
like Valley Crime Stoppers, is truly
a group of caring people who come
together and donate their time and
experience to be a part of making
our communities safer. The Valley
Crime Stopper Board of Directors
and Staff are extremely grateful
for the generosity and support of
our sponsors. You have trusted and
supported the mission of Valley
Crime Stoppers and with your
continued support, we have been
hard at work to help
make Fresno and
the surrounding
communities a
much safer place
to live.
students can also be a part of
making our valley and our schools
a safer place to be. Valley Crime
Stoppers has held many rallies on
high school campuses over the
past few years and we are also
working to craft a message and
teaching tools that will help at the
middle school level. We continue
to work toward the goal of making
the school programs a strong part
of our mission. The ultimate goal is
to educate students
on how they can
utilize the Crime
Stoppers Tip Line to
anonymously report
dangerous activity
including bullying,
drugs and vandalism
that takes place on
campus.
WITH YOUR
CONTINUED
SUPPORT, WE
HAVE BEEN
HARD AT
WORK TO HELP
MAKE FRESNO
AND THE
SURROUNDING
COMMUNITIES
A MUCH SAFER
PLACE TO LIVE.
Our focus continues
to be on “getting
the bad guys,” but
we are having to
find more creative
ways to do that.
We have recently
updated our
website to make
it easier for the
public to use, as
well as allowing
the public to view
crime trends in
the area. We are
also out educating
the public about
our program at
community events,
including the Fresno
and Madera Fairs, as well as Fresno
State’s Vintage Days. We continue
to work to inform the public that
every tip reported is completely
anonymous. Without the invaluable
help of our media partners: KSEE
24, KGPE 47, Cumulus Media,
Univision Radio, The Fresno Bee,
many outlying local newspapers and
Jeffrey Scott Agency, this would not
be possible.
We are in the process of working
to get more involvement from the
students and the school districts
in getting the message out that
As we look toward
2015, a big focus will
be working closely
with our local law
enforcement and
being a more effective
tool for solving crimes
and catching bad
guys. On behalf of
The Valley Crime
Stoppers Board of
Directors we would
like to say, “Thank
you.” Thank you for
believing in us and
our mission, and for
enabling us to assist
local law enforcement in making a
difference in our community.
Detective
Brad Stevens
Fresno Police
Department
Coordinator, Valley
Crime Stoppers
Dale Mendoza
President,
Valley Crime Stoppers
VA L L E Y CRIME S T OPPE R S
HOW IT WORKS
IT’S ANONYMOUS –
AND IT WORKS!
Due in part to the success of Valley
Crime Stoppers, it has become much
harder for dangerous criminals to hide in
our valley. Most people now know that
if they have information on a wanted
felon, they can provide confidential
information and possibly even earn
a reward. But as much as they know
about the basics of Valley Crime
Stoppers, many don’t understand how it
all works.
The first step is having the various law
enforcement agencies, such as the
Fresno and Clovis Police Departments,
Fresno and Madera County Sheriff’s
Departments and the California Highway
Patrol, generate a list of criminals they’re
having trouble tracking down. Part of the
list may include high-profile bad guys,
while others may simply be criminals
who are hiding out in the community.
The law enforcement agencies then
give the names, pictures, and crimes to
the various media partners, including
KSEE 24, CBS 47, The Fresno Bee,
Cumulus Media, Univision Radio and
Jeffrey Scott Agency.
KSEE 24 and CBS 47 periodically
produce reenactments that air
on a weekly basis. The particular
reenactments are selected by law
enforcement and typically address “hot
spots” within the community. KSEE 24
also profiles one “most wanted felon”
and one “arrest of the day,” five days per
week. Additionally, KSEE 24 runs Public
Service Announcements as space allows
and tags every crime-related story with
the “498-STOP” number.
The Fresno Bee regularly runs halfpage ads profiling 20-30 of the area’s
most wanted, and occasionally runs
full page ads when there is a particular
need. Cumulus Media runs audio of
reenactments and constantly promotes
the 498-STOP number on its KMJ,
KISS Country, MEGA 97.9, and Y101
radio stations. Univision Radio has
recently come on-board with Valley Crime
Stoppers and uses its stations to reach
the previously underserved SpanishA NNU A L R EP OR T • 2 014
speaking members of the community.
Jeffrey Scott Agency handles the Valley
Crime Stoppers website, along with
the print ads, collateral pieces, and
production for all major (and many
minor) media campaigns.
Once community members hear and
see the criminals and the pleas for help
through the various media channels,
they can send tips to Valley Crime
Stoppers by calling, texting, emailing,
using the app, or by plugging the tip
directly into the website. The most
important thing at this point is that
all tips are confidential. Even if Valley
Crime Stoppers wanted to learn the
identities of the tipsters (we don’t),
the way the tips are handled makes
it impossible to learn their identity.
The tips that come in to Valley Crime
Stoppers are then sorted and dispersed
to the law enforcement agency that is
investigating the crime — or the agency
that has jurisdiction, in the event that
the crime has not yet been investigated.
When a tip bears fruit and a crime is
solved or a wanted criminal is arrested,
the tipster may then be entitled to a
reward. As is the case when tips are
first taken, the collection process is
again confidential — ensuring the
safety and continued cooperation of the
individual.
It’s no surprise that with cooperation
between our law enforcement agencies,
media partners and citizens, Valley
Crime Stoppers has taken a bite
out of crime. Valley Crime Stoppers
has received national recognition as
a shining example of cooperation
centered on one shared goal: keeping
our community safe for honest
citizens. Criminals are finding out what
we’ve known for a while — when our
community comes together, they’ve got
nowhere to run to and nowhere to hide!
3
2014 TOTALS
ARRESTS
Narcotics Violations
155
Auto Theft
Wanted Persons
801
79
Narcotics
522
Fraud
65
Robbery
181
Robbery
59
Auto Theft
131
Felon with a Gun
54
Burglary
115
Burglary
51
Fraud
101
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
36
Homicide
78
Spousal Abuse
33
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
72
Parole Violation
21
Spousal Abuse
51
Grand Theft
17
Weapons Violation
49
Stolen Property
13
Hit & Run
28
Felony Vandalism / Graffiti
7
Possession of Stolen Property
16
Homicide
7
Felony Vandalism / Graffiti
13
Felony Hit & Run
3
Grand Theft
11
Felony DUI
3
Arson
7
Child Abuse / Rape
2
Prostitution
7
Prostitution
2
Felony DUI
6
Arson
1
Elder Abuse
3
Child Abuse / Rape
3
STATS
Tips
Arrests
2,443
662
Property Recovered
$111,000
Narcotics Recovered
$37,000
Guns Recovered
Rewards
66
$84,000
MEDIA PARTNER ARRESTS
4
CRIME TIPS
ADDITIONAL STATS
Wanted suspects profiled in
Valley Newspapers
2,000
Felony suspects profiled on
KSEE 24 & CBS 47
156
Success stories profiled on
KSEE 24 & CBS 47
156
Felony suspects profiled on KMJ
52
Felony suspects profiled MEGA 97.9
52
KSEE 24
113
Fresno Bee
106
Web Tips
91
Homicides Filmed & Aired
30
Vida en el Valle
60
Hit & Runs Filmed & Aired
6
Cumulas Media
57
Burglaries Filmed & Aired
4
Clovis Round-Up
53
Arsons Filmed & Aired
4
Kerman News
44
Reedley Exponit
40
Home Invasion Robberies
Filmed & Aired
2
Madera Tribune
36
Carjacking Filmed & Aired
2
Selma Enterprise
34
Child Kidnaping Filmed & Aired
1
CS Schools
24
Facebook
16
Assault on an Officer
Filmed & Aired
1
Auberry Times
4
REENACTMENTS
VA L L E Y CRIME S T OPPE R S
SINCE THE BEGINNING
OCTOBER 1993 - DECEMBER 2014
Narcotics Violations
2,798
Parole Violations
1,445
Fraud
884
Spousal Abuse
768
Auto Theft
736
Burglary
677
Homicide
546
ADW / Shootings
567
Robbery
501
Weapons Violations
477
Grand Theft
301
School Crimes
217
Felony Vandalism / Graffiti
179
Felony Hit & Run
137
Child Abuse / Rape
133
Arson
128
Criminal Threats
105
Felony DUI
89
Prostitution
68
Kidnapping
46
Rape / Sexual Assault
35
Car Jacking / Home Invasion Robbery
35
Elder Abuse
24
CODE NUMBERS ISSUED
33,241
TOTAL ARRESTS
11,887
A NNU A L R EP OR T • 2 014
CASES CLEARED
11,534
PROPERTY RECOVERED
$2,846,711
NARCOTICS RECOVERED
$11,325,700
GUNS RECOVERED
690
REWARDS PAID
$1,261,395
REWARDS UNCLAIMED
$282,275
5
2014 IN REVIEW
HELPING OUR
FARMING FRIENDS
BRINGING DOWN THE
BAD GUYS
FELONS WITH A GUN
ARE DONE!
From copper wiring, batteries and fuel
to pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer,
agricultural supplies stolen from farms
and ranches has been a problem in
the valley
for decades.
Located in
the outer
reaches, far
away from the
relative safety
of consistent
law enforcement
patrols, farms
have long been
an easy target for
thieves. Not only
are they shielded
from the watchful eyes of neighbors
due to their remote locations, they are
well-stocked with potential valuables —
products of an industry dependent on
costly machines and commodities.
On November 15, 2014, a man attacked
and robbed another man at a gas
station/mini mart at Peach and Olive.
Shortly thereafter, KSEE 24 and CBS
47 profiled the robbery, showing
video surveillance of the crime and
asking viewers to call Valley Crime
Stoppers with any
tips that could help
identify the assailant.
Within hours, the tip
line was flooded with
people who had seen
the crime on the
news and recognized
the man from the
surveillance video.
To halt the increase in street gang
violence in early 2014, the Fresno Police
Department knew they needed help.
Already hitting the gangs from multiple
angles, the first outside resource the
Fresno Police Department looked to for
help was Valley Crime Stoppers. Thinking
outside of the box, Valley Crime
Stoppers developed the Felons
with Firearms program, offering
a $500 reward for any tip
leading to the arrest of a felon in
possession of a firearm.
To fight these criminals, Valley Crime
Stoppers sprung into action, placing
signs, printed in both English and
Spanish, and warning would-be thieves
of impending arrest and urging citizens
with knowledge of wrong-doing to
report tips on farms, in post offices and
convenience stores, and along highways
across the valley.
Running from June through
December, this innovative
program used radio and outdoor
advertising in both Spanish and English
The very next day, officers from the
to advertise the reward and ask for the
Fresno Police Department conducted
public’s help in identifying known felons
a probation check on the suspect who
in possession of firearms. Spurred on by
had been identified by tipsters$as
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the unusually large reward, 57 tipsters
500
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flooded Valley Crime
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not home at the
text and email lines,
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time the search
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48 guns.
These tips,
24/CBS 47 and
and subsequent
local tipsters,
arrests, played a
detectives were able to narrow their
significant role in helping the Fresno
investigation to one man and Avalos was
Police Department get a handle on the
subsequently arrested.
violence that had threatened to spiral out
of control.
9/25/14 9:46 AM
WE COULDN’T DO THIS WITHOUT
OUR MEDIA PARTNERS
CBS Outdoor
Kerman News
Vida en el Valle
Reedley Exponent
Selma Enterprise
Madera Tribune
Auberry Mountain Press
Clovis Round-Up
Sierra Star
6
VA L L E Y CRIME S T OPPE R S
BOARD SPOTLIGHT
HARRY MASSUCCO
A VALUED PARTNER IN CRIME (PREVENTION)
Born in the mid-1940’s and raised here in Fresno,
Harry Massucco has been a bright light in the local law
enforcement industry for nearly 50 years. The son of
second generation Fresnans, Harry grew up stocking the
shelves and helping customers at the
“mom and pop” stores his parents
owned. After graduating from Memorial
High School, and while attending
Fresno State, Harry took his first foray
into law enforcement as a reserve
deputy of the Fresno County Sheriff’s
Department.
After spending some time in banking, Harry helped found
Sherwood Lehman Massucco, Inc. Together with his
partners, Harry built his company into a local staffing and
recruiting power, connecting high-profile businesses with
the best candidates on the market. In 2014, his
partners retired, but Harry decided to push on
and now serves as an executive search consultant
for his own company.
Soon after college graduation, he was
hired as a full-time Fresno County
Sheriff’s deputy — working his way up
from patrol to detective to homicide.
While serving as a homicide detective,
Harry became a charter member of the
Sheriff’s Department’s first bomb squad and SWAT team.
After about a decade with the Department, Harry was
recruited to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office,
where he worked as a homicide detective for a handful
of years before leaving the public service arena to work
security for Vangas, Inc., a Suburban Propane subsidiary.
Valley Crime Stoppers was lucky enough to get
Harry on the team in 2000, when a fortuitous
pairing with Det. Brad Stevens during a
Leadership Fresno session reeled him in. Drawn
by his lifelong love of law enforcement, Harry
was happy to give back and make a difference in
the community. Fifteen years into his association
with Valley Crime Stoppers, Harry is extremely
proud of the organization and at how much its
profile has been raised during his tenure. He
looks forward to increasing Valley Crime Stoppers’ reach to
younger generations. “We have proven to be an effective
tool, but we want to have more of an impact in the schools
and at younger ages,” says Harry. “We need the kids to
know who we are and trust what we do, for the sake of the
community.”
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Diamond Sponsor – $50,000
Table Mountain Casino
Garnet Sponsor – $7,500
Donaghy Sales, LLC
Ruby Sponsors – $5,000
JDC Equip, LLC
Platinum Sponsors – $2,500
Custom Agricultural Formulators
KASCO FAB, Inc.
Mid-Valley Disposal
A NNU A L R EP OR T • 2 014
Gold Sponsors
Acqua Concepts
Agri-Valley Irrigation, Inc.
All Valley Environmental, Inc.
Bank of the West
Banks & Co.
Borba Farms
Bruno’s Iron & Metal
Bulldog Towing
Central Valley Community Bank
Central Valley Reporters
Central Valley Trailer
Commercial Radiator Works, Inc.
Crescent Canal Company
Dresick Farms, Inc.
East Bay Tire
Errotabere Ranches
Evapco, Inc.
Fresno Commercial Lenders
Fresno Deputy Sheriff’s Assoc.
Fresno Equipment Company
G&H Diesel Service
Geil Enterprises Inc.
General Crane
George Dakovich & Son, Inc.
Gragnani Ag Services
H&J Chevrolet
HR Livestock Transportation, Inc.
ITO Packing Co., Inc.
Jack’s Carwash Company
Jones Cleaning Centers, Inc.
Koll-Pallesi
Linda Vista Farms
Madera Auto Center
Maricope Orchards, LLC
O.P.C. Farms
Phil & Joyce Larson
Producers Dairy
Quali-T-Ruck
Robert Jensen, Inc.
RMC Constructors
Shaw’s Structures Unlimited, Inc.
Sierra West Warehouse
Simplot
Snowden Enterprises, Inc.
Stinson Canal & Irrigation Co.
Superior Almond Hulling
Talons Landscaping
Terranova Ranch, Inc.
Thermo King Fresno, Inc.
The Papé Group, Inc.
ThomCo Insurance
United Valley Insurance Service
Weakley & Arendt, LLP
West Coast Waste, Inc.
Woolf Enterprises
In Kind Sponsors
Alert-O-Lite
Deli Delicious
Dumont Printing
Fresno Police Officer Association
Jack Frost, Inc.
Light & Sound Solutions
Pardini’s Catering & Banquets
Pacific Pizza
PepsiCo
Perfect Blend Cigars
Sam’s Party Rental
The Landmark Restaurant
Yosemite Linen
7
UNDER ARREST
& BEHIND BARS IN 2014
ARRESTED
Feliciano Gallardo
Felon in Possession of a Stolen Shotgun
Surveillance photos of a
robbery at the Sonic Drive-In
on West Shaw was shown
on KSEE 24 and CBS 47.
A tipster saw the pictures
and identified Jonathan
Cervantes as the suspect
who held up the restaurant.
Detectives were able to build
a case from the tip and issue
a warrant for his arrest.
ARRESTED
Jonathan Cervantes
Armed Robbery
Clovis PD posted a surveillance
photo of a robbery at a 7-Eleven
store at Peach and Gettysburg. The
surveillance photo was shown on
KSEE 24 and CBS 47. A tip came
into the Valley Crime Stoppers
hotline naming Marcus Kilgore as
the suspect in the photo. Kilgore
was also identified off a fingerprint
found at the store. He was found
hiding in Fresno and is currently
behind bars.
ARRESTED
Marcus Kilgore
Armed Robbery
ARRESTED
Billy Phelps
Home Invasion Robbery
Feliciano Gallardo was featured
in The Fresno Bee “Felon with
a Gun” edition. A tip to Crime
Stoppers gave information
that Gallardo was working as a
telemarketer on East Shaw Ave.
MAGEC gang unit responded
to the business. Gallardo
attempted to flee, but was
captured in the parking lot.
A copy of The Fresno Bee page
was found in his pocket.
Valley Crime Stoppers
received a tip giving
the location of
Billy Phelps, who
was responsible for
the home invasion
robbery and attack of
an elderly man in a
wheel chair. Phelps
attempted to flee on
foot, but was captured
by patrol officers.
ARRESTED
ARRESTED
Christopher Copeland & Breanna Allen
A home invasion robbery occurred
in Clovis in December 2013. A
tip came into to Valley Crime
Stoppers providing the names of
Christopher Copeland and Breanna
Allen as being involved in the
home invasion robbery. Clovis PD
detectives worked the the tip and
arrested both Copeland and Allen
for the robbery.
Home Invasion Robbery
ARRESTED
Brandon Drum
Felony Hit & Run
ARRESTED
Fausto Cruz
Armed Robbery
On May 14, 2013, Brandon Drum
was driving at a high rate of speed
through an apartment complex in
the 1200 block of North Sylmar.
He lost control of the car and
crashed into an apartment injuring
a 2-year-old old child. Drum fled
and had been on the run for almost
a year. A Valley Crime Stoppers
tip gave a location where he was
hiding and officers arrested him.
On July 23, 2014 Fausto Cruz entered
the Bank of the West on First and
Herndon. Cruz walked up to the teller,
produced a gun and a note, and took
the money in her cash drawer. He then
fled on a black bicycle. The surveillance
photos were shown on KSEE 24 and CBS
47 and Valley Crime Stoppers received
a tip that identified Cruz as the suspect.
He was apprehended by Clovis PD as he
was casing a Union Bank in Clovis. He
confessed to the bank robbery.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF THIS YEAR’S ARRESTS
MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF OUR
GOLD SPONSORS. IF YOU ARE A GOLD SPONSOR – THANK YOU.
IF YOU ARE NOT THEN PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING THE OTHER
BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHOSE SUPPORT IS
CRITICAL TO THE VALLEY CRIME STOPPER MISSION.
498-STOP (7867)
www.valleycrimestoppers.org