Campus Crime Stoppers
August 21, 2017

Both Granbury middle schools and the new 9th grade campus are joining Granbury High School in forming campus-based Crime Stoppers chapters. Representatives from the campuses also have joined the board of the umbrella “adult” group, Hood County Crime Stoppers.

As with all Crime Stoppers chapters, students will be able to report crime tips in anonymity and receive monetary rewards through a system that protects their identity.

The three new Campus Crime Stoppers will be guided and supported by the high school group, which was formed last year with members of the Student Council. In October 2006, four student members traveled to Odessa, Texas with four adult chaperones, including GHS Assistant Principal William Hernandez and Lt. Billy Henderson of the Hood County Sheriff’s Office, for a statewide symposium on Campus Crime Stoppers.

“By attending the annual Conference, the students are able to network with other students and gain valuable information,” Lt. Billy Henderson says.

At its January board meeting, Hood County Crime Stoppers voted to give each campus $500 to jump-start their reward funds. Board member Kathy Swindle agreed to serve as a coordinator for the satellite groups, providing student guidance and spearheading fundraising efforts and media promotion. Plans already are underway for a major fundraising initiative in October to fund Campus Crime Stoppers for the 2007-2008 academic year.

“The Driftwood Theatre, which is represented on the adult board of Crime Stoppers, has agreed to help us sponsor ‘Fright Night’ events for each campus with scary movies in the weeks before Halloween,” Ms. Swindle says. “The students will love it, they’ll raise money for their school’s Crime Stoppers chapter, and hopefully the Driftwood will make a little money.”

If successful, Fright Night could become a yearly fundraising event, Ms. Swindle says – not to mention a great way to publicize Campus Crime Stoppers and rally support in the community.

“At a time when crime and drugs are prevalent even among middle-school students,” she says, “parents likely will be glad to know that such a program is in place at their child’s school.”