FOX43tv.com

that people have to be PAID to do what's right. Shame on them. What if some loved one of theirs was murdered, and it could only be solved by an anonymous tip. Wouldn't they want someone to call the tip in, whether the tipster got paid or not? They should be ashamed of themselves because I know I'm ashamed of them.

KANSAS CITY, MO. -- Several anonymous crime tipsters are complaining that they're not being paid their rewards on "technicalities."

More than one anonymous Crime Stoppers Tipster FOX 4 talked to complained that the rules aren't clear and they don't understand why they're not getting paid. Now, they're telling their friends not to use this vital service.

"They didn't really explain any of the requirements or anything. They just gave me the tip number and told me to keep calling back, and once the people were arrested, they would give me the money," said one tipster.

FOX 4 asked if the people had been arrested? The tipster said, "I'm not sure yet, because they wouldn't give me any information. They were very rude and hung up the phone."

One woman we spoke with said she called the Tips Hotline with juicy information only she had on a recent murder. After some back and forth, she realized they weren't going to reward her, or tell her why.

She said her experience would deter her from calling the TIPS Hotline again and she's already told a couple of other people about what happened to her.

"Tips are critical. Especially, this has been a very violent year," said Craig Sarver, Crime Stoppers Coordinator.

Sarver said his team relies on anonymous tipsters, and are not stingy with their pay outs.

"We pay several thousand dollars a month, each month, in cash to people whose tips have earned that reward," said Sarver.

To collect, he said tipsters must follow the rules and the tip must lead to an arrest. But, some tips won't pay off.

"For instance, if a tipster goes to the police first, then comes to us afterward... We cant pay those. It truly must be anonymous," said Sarver.

"I just feel like I gave that information up for nothing. I just thought I would like, giving that information would help that guy's family because that was a young gentlemen who didn't have to die," said a tipster.

Another "technicality" is that the information has to be new. If someone else has come forward with it, you with be thanked, but not with money.

BasehorLady's Blog

How Sad

BasehorLady

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