‘A leap of faith’: Champaign County Crime Stoppers celebrates 4 decades

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — For 40 years, Champaign County Crime Stoppers has given people a way to help solve crimes without ever giving their name.

Now, the nonprofit is preparing to celebrate four decades of working alongside local law enforcement and the community.

Champaign County Crime Stoppers was founded in May 1986. President John Hecker has been involved since the beginning, when a small group of community leaders began exploring how a Crime Stoppers program could work locally.

"We actually ended up going over to Macon County because they already had a Crime Stoppers program established, and they were very helpful in providing this information," Hecker said. "It was a leap of faith, if you will, by all of us, really. We were embarking on something that was a case of first impression. We had never done anything quite like this in Champaign County."

Hecker said not every law enforcement agency immediately understood what the organization could offer. That changed within the program's first few years after a double homicide in southwest Champaign.

According to Hecker, police believed the suspect had killed his mother-in-law and sister-in-law and may have been heading toward family in Florida. Crime Stoppers received a tip within roughly 36 hours identifying exactly where the suspect was hiding in Champaign. A SWAT team went to the location and arrested him.

"That put us on the map," Hecker said. "And really, I think that swayed a lot of law enforcement over to realizing how helpful we could be to them."

Today, Hecker said Crime Stoppers has the support of law enforcement agencies throughout Champaign County. Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said Crime Stoppers can serve as an important intermediary for people who have information but are reluctant to speak directly with investigators.

"That little nugget of information may be enough to get an investigation started," Heuerman said. "And Crime Stoppers is the intermediary between that ... and they will accept 100% anonymous tips."

Heuerman said tips have helped investigators take another look at evidence in major cases, including homicides.

"It's not necessarily the conviction at that point, but that little piece of information that then says, okay, let's go back and let's take another look at this," Heuerman said. "And there have been some high-priority cases like that that have really come through. And that Crime Stoppers tip has been what we've needed to actually conclude the case."

Over its 40-year history, Hecker said Champaign County Crime Stoppers has received nearly 30,000 tips. Those tips have led to the arrests of more than 2,100 people and helped clear nearly 2,400 cases. The organization has also helped law enforcement recover more than $2.6 million in stolen property and narcotics.

Crime Stoppers has also approved nearly $260,000 in rewards for tipsters during that time. The organization has even adjusted its rewards over the years as the types of crimes facing the community have changed. Hecker said Crime Stoppers increased rewards in response to gun violence. Tips leading to an arrest in a felony involving a gun can qualify for an automatic $2,500 reward, while homicide cases can carry a $5,000 reward.

One part of the program, however, has remained central to its mission: anonymity. Crime Stoppers originally accepted information through a telephone line. Tipsters can now also submit information through the organization's website and the free P3 Tips mobile app.

"I'd say without any equivocation, there is no way we can know who is providing information to us," Hecker said. "The anonymity is very, very important."

Heuerman said that anonymity is why law enforcement agencies continue reminding the public about Crime Stoppers.

"It is 100% anonymous," Heuerman said. "Even whenever they give out a payment for information, they don't know who that payment is going to."

Crime Stoppers operates separately from law enforcement and government. Hecker said it is a private, civilian-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit created solely to assist local law enforcement agencies. It is also entirely run by volunteers.

In 40 years, the organization has never had a paid staff member or an office.

"We are very unique," Hecker said. "There are many wonderful not-for-profits throughout the country and certainly in Champaign County. We're one of the very few that, since day one, we have never had a paid staff member, and we've never had an office."

Hecker said the structure keeps overhead low, allowing most donated money to go toward rewards. He credits dedicated board members and long-term relationships with law enforcement for keeping the program going.

Heuerman said that volunteer commitment makes the organization's impact even more significant.

"It's especially amazing considering that they work with an all-volunteer group," Heuerman said. "They don't even have an office, and it's all based on donations, basically. And so that truly shows the compassion that they have for our community."

Hecker also credits support from local law enforcement, the community and local media with helping Crime Stoppers grow over the years.

"We're very blessed that we don't have a lot of challenges that they do, in that we have the unqualified support of all law enforcement agencies in Champaign County," Hecker said. "So that's, that is, spelled out our success."

Crime Stoppers will mark the milestone with its 40th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday, Sept. 10, at Carmon's in Downtown Champaign. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the dinner program begins at 6 p.m. Hecker said organizers deliberately chose to make the evening a celebration rather than a traditional fundraiser.

Champaign native and Olympic speed skating legend Bonnie Blair will serve as the featured speaker.

Blair grew up in Champaign and graduated from Centennial High School before becoming one of the most decorated American Winter Olympians. She won six Olympic medals, five gold and one bronze, during the 1988, 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympic Games. She became the first American woman to win five Olympic gold medals and was named Sports Illustrated's Sportswoman of the Year in 1994.

Hecker said Blair's appearance is especially fitting because of her longtime connection to local law enforcement, which supported her during her Olympic journey.

"Back then, she was known as Champaign's favorite speeder," Hecker said, recalling how local law enforcement promoted the speedskater's Olympic efforts.

The celebration will also bring together current and former Crime Stoppers board members and law enforcement coordinators. The organization will announce the recipient of its 2026 Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award, named in memory of the longtime local broadcaster and former Crime Stoppers board member, as well as the recipient of its 2026 Crime Stoppers Youth Scholarship.

Tickets cost $50 and must be purchased in advance through the Crime Stoppers website or by contacting a board member. Organizers say tickets are limited and expected to sell out.

More information about Champaign County Crime Stoppers and tickets for the 40th anniversary celebration can be found at 373tips.com.