Memphis CrimeStoppers plans broader school reporting program and higher tip engagement after nearly $172,000 paid in 2025

CrimeStoppers outlines 2026 priorities focused on anonymous tips and expansion in local schools

CrimeStoppers of Memphis and Shelby County is preparing to broaden its footprint in 2026, with leaders emphasizing growth in tip participation and an expansion of its long-running student reporting initiative inside Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

The nonprofit organization operates a reward-and-anonymity model designed to help law enforcement locate suspects and advance investigations. Tips can be submitted by phone, text, or online, and cash rewards are issued when information leads to an arrest and formal charges. The organization’s board, composed of unpaid civilian volunteers, sets policies and approves reward amounts.

2025 activity: rewards, wanted-person tips, and a focus on case outcomes

CrimeStoppers’ director David Wayne Brown said the program paid nearly $172,000 in cash rewards during 2025, describing the total as close to a record level for the local organization. Brown also cited 14 tips during 2025 that provided the locations of wanted individuals, including at least one case in which a tip was received nearly two years after the initial incident.

The organization’s model is built around anonymity for tipsters, a feature intended to reduce fear of retaliation and increase willingness to share information about serious crimes and fugitives. Rewards are not tied to convictions; payment occurs after arrest and charging, a structure meant to avoid delays that can extend for months in the court system.

“Trust Pays” in schools: how reports are channeled and what it targets

A central goal for 2026 is expanding “Trust Pays,” a reporting system used in some Memphis-Shelby County Schools campuses. The program is designed for students to share concerns with a trusted adult at school. The adult relays the information to the principal, who evaluates the report and determines next steps, including referral to appropriate authorities when needed.

CrimeStoppers says the initiative has generated nearly 1,900 anonymous student tips since it began, with reported outcomes including recoveries of weapons and drugs, as well as the prevention of misdemeanor and felony offenses. Brown said students who provide actionable information can be eligible for cash awards, though he noted many students choose not to accept payment and instead prioritize school safety.

• Students report concerns to a trusted staff member rather than directly to police.
• The student’s identity is kept confidential within the school reporting channel.
• School administrators assess and act, including contacting law enforcement when warranted.

Context: crime trends, enforcement pressure, and the role of community reporting

CrimeStoppers’ 2026 push comes as Memphis enters the year with publicly reported declines in several categories of serious crime during 2025, alongside intensified enforcement efforts involving local, state, and federal partners since late September 2025. Those initiatives have also coincided with additional pressure on the Shelby County Jail and the court system due to increased arrests and case volume.

CrimeStoppers’ planned growth centers on increasing tip flow and embedding reporting pathways where residents and students already have daily contact points.

For CrimeStoppers, the stated operational focus remains consistent: expand awareness, increase the number of actionable tips, and strengthen reporting channels intended to produce arrests in cases involving violent crime, fugitives, and campus safety threats.