Mission & History
The mission of the Crime Commission is to improve the safety and security of the residents of Greater Tulsa through crime prevention education, anti-violence programs, and public involvement. Our vision is creating a safer place to live, work and play.
The Crime Commission is a non-profit, 501c3, private organization who relies solely on private donations and grant opportunities to conduct its business. An outgrowth of the Criminal Justice Task Force created by the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, the Crime Commission was incorporated in 1971. Currently, there are 26 board members, 2 full-time staff members, and 10 active volunteers who help us implement our 5 core programs: Crime Stoppers (596-COPS), Alert Neighbors/Neighborhood Watch, Citizens Alert Patrol, Arrest Arson (596-ARSN), and Safe Escape.
The Crime Commission is recognized locally and statewide by officials and citizens as an effective tool for addressing community crime problems. We initiated the first Crime Stoppers program in Oklahoma in 1979 (the second Crime Stoppers program in the United States). Crime Stoppers publicizes the details of an unsolved crime each week through local news media in order to generate information about a crime. Since its inception, Crime Stoppers has been directly responsible for the solution of over 5,000 felony cases and boosts an 85% arrest rate based on the tips received. More than $12 million in stolen property and narcotics has been recovered and the Crime Commission has committed over $450,000 in rewards – money generated from the community through donations and other fund raising efforts.
The Alert Neighbor program began in 1980 and has served more than 500,000 residents throughout northeast Oklahoma. Last year, 255 Alert Neighbor meetings were conducted by the Crime Commission reaching over 29,000 residents in the Tulsa area. This program educates the community about the extent of the crime problem and addresses the specific impact on a community. It involves citizens in crime prevention efforts to make their homes, neighborhoods and businesses safer.
Over the last 2 ½ years, the Safe Escape program has empowered 35,000 to use skills learned to escape an attempted abduction. Early last spring an Owasso boy diverted an attempted abduction by using one of the techniques demonstrated during the 45 minute interactive video training conducted earlier in the year at his school!
The Crime Commission’s unique organization and structure serve as a model for other communities.