Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 24, 2004

Metro transit police join Crime Solvers

The Metro Transit Police Department has joined the National Capital Area Crime Solvers, Inc., a new umbrella organization formed to help keep residents of the Metropolitan Washington region safe. The National Capital Area Crime Solvers group was launched today. The Metro Transit Police is teaming up with Crime Solvers and several regional police departments in an effort to enhance their ability to track down criminals. Other law enforcement agencies that are participating in the newly created National Capital Area Crime Solvers, Inc., include the police departments of Arlington County, Fairfax County, City of Falls Church, City of Manassas, District of Columbia, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Prince William County in addition to the Virginia State Police and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Crime Solvers is a community-based program that works with law enforcement agencies and news media to solve crimes by offering rewards for information that leads to an arrest or to the recovery of stolen property. The group is led by a citizen board of directors and raises funds to cover operating costs, promote the program and pay rewards. Rewards vary in amount, but are capped at $1,000 to ensure anonymity by avoiding tax forms required for larger amounts. " Whenever police departments and citizen-led organizations such as Crime Solvers can work together, the leveraging of resources is always a more powerful tool in the crime-prevention and crime-fighting community," said Metro Transit Police Chief Polly Hanson. More information is available at www.cash4tips.org or at 1-800-673-2777.

News release issued on March 24, 2004.