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Launch of Crime Stoppers Youth Program

Fri, 7 Mar, 2014

A Crime Stoppers Youth program launched yesterday at two north Edmonton high schools. Students at Queen Elizabeth and Archbishop O’Leary will soon be able to use their smartphones to report crime though an anonymous Crime Stoppers Youth tip line. The program is the first of its kind in Alberta.  

Over 2,800 students attend the two high schools, just blocks apart, making up one of the highest concentrations of high-school-aged youth in the city and making the schools a good fit to pilot the program.

Constable Kendall Booth and Youth Liaison Katie Wallbaum from the Killarney Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (N.E.T.) developed the program to empower students to anonymously report crimes and make their school communities safer. “The pressure to fit in is extremely hard on youth, often leading to crimes going unreported,” said Katie Wallbaum.

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Left to right: Derek Onysko, EPS School Resource Officer for Queen Elizabeth High; Alyssa Hacthard, Gr 12 student; Sue Bell, principal; Cheryl Johner, Trustee; Katie Wallbaum, N.E.T; Constable Kendall Booth, N.E.T

Edmonton Police Service School Resource Officers will present the program to students and posters (like the two below) will encourage students to participate. Students whose tips result in successful investigations will receive $50.

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