03-04-2025
Erik Estrada joins Panhandle Crime Stoppers in celebrating new service areas
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Two new counties are now included in the 'Crime Stoppers' tip line, solving crime services.
'I'm extremely proud. Crime Stoppers has been in Bay County for 42 years. We have never had a tipster identified and we have a very close knit working network with all the law enforcement. We have just expanded Crime Stoppers to include Washington and Holmes County,' Crime Stoppers Media Director Debra Peel said.
'The more you can push it out, more and more information you get back to the citizens, the better off we all are. You know, that's what it's all about. Is getting information out to the people who can get the information back to you,' Holmes County Sheriff John Tate said.
Sheriff Tate and Sheriff Crews are pleased to further the collaboration between neighboring law enforcement agencies.
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'The program is proven, the program works in each one of these communities. To generate those calls and to help involve the communities and for those people to, you know, to remain anonymous, you know, and to help clean those communities up and help catch the bad guys. So we're happy to be a part of it,' Washington County Sheriff Kevin Crews said.
Volunteers highlighted the success story of Jameela, a human trafficking victim who was rescued, after a citizen in another state called them with a tip. Washington and Holmes County sheriffs weren't the only special guests at Wednesday's crime stoppers event.
'That's why I got involved, because of the things that I was exposed to as a police man in Indiana. And that's why I'm involved in 'Internet Crimes against Children.' But the crime stoppers organization here in Panama City, it's a wonderful, wonderful organization. And they do the job, they do the thing,' Actor Erik Estrada said.
Estrada shared his unique background with the audience recounting his transition from playing a cop to being a real cop. And while many snagged a selfie with the 'CHiPs' star, it wasn't the only exciting part of the day.
'We were able to donate $10,000 to Crime Stoppers today to help them pay for tips. And the ironic thing about that is that money came from seized drug proceeds, so the drug dealers are paying for tips on themselves that we get,' Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said.
Crime Stoppers relies on diligent volunteers and donations. To learn more or to make a donation, click here.
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