Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers is marking a busy and productive year, highlighting strong community support, growing engagement and plans for a new approach to public communications in 2026.
The organization said it continued to support local investigations through anonymous tips while also placing an increased focus on education and outreach aimed at promoting safety, security and overall community well-being across Chatham-Kent. Central to that work is its volunteer board of directors, which contributed time and expertise throughout the year. Crime Stoppers noted it welcomed several new board members in 2026 while also thanking long-serving members who completed their terms.
“Thank you to all of the volunteers and sponsors who helped make this year a success. We couldn’t have done it without you,” said Erica McIntosh, Crime Stoppers program coordinator.
One of the year’s major highlights was the sold-out second annual Chatham-Kent Crime Stoppers Golf Tournament, which raised funds to support key programs and initiatives. Proceeds from the event helped fund the Children’s Safety Expo, the anonymous tips-for-cash program and a range of educational engagements with community groups.
“We will be reviewing our full statistics later in the New Year once all of the data is available, but we are already seeing positive results,” said McIntosh. “People are making a real effort to submit detailed tips that include the who, what, when, where, and how. Quality information increases the likelihood that police can take action, which may ultimately lead to arrests or charges.”
McIntosh also pointed to a growing trend among tipsters who are choosing not to receive a cash reward for the information they provide.
“We are seeing an increasing number of people submitting tips who do not wish to accept a reward. We want to remind the public that all tips are anonymous, and that there is also a secure process in place to keep cash rewards anonymous as well,” she said.
Looking ahead to 2026, Crime Stoppers said it will be making a shift in how it communicates with the public. The organization plans to move away from the traditional Crime of the Week format and introduce a new CK Crime Stoppers Community Update.
“While ‘Crime of the Week’ is a catchy name, it limits our ability to share timely and relevant information,” said McIntosh. “The new Community Update will allow us to continue requesting assistance with investigations while also sharing education, prevention messaging, and important community updates. In today’s 24-hour news environment, it’s important that Crime Stoppers remains current and responsive.”
January is Crime Stoppers Awareness Month, and the community is invited to attend the annual flag-raising ceremony at the Chatham Civic Centre on Jan. 2, 2026, at noon. The event will officially launch another year of Crime Stoppers’ work in support of community safety.
