PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Chief Tonya Chapman announced a new initiative that encourages people to notify the Crime Line about illegal guns.
People who contact the Crime Line can receive up to $1,000 if their information leads to an arrest. The initiative is called 1G-4-PEACE. Chapman is hoping people will them if someone has a gun on school property, someone has an illegal or stolen gun, a felon has a gun, or if a gun was used in a crime, according to a department press release.
Tipsters can text "PORTSMOUTH 1G4PEACE" and then their tip to the word CRIMES (274637). The tipsters can remain anonymous.
"By reminding citizens of the partnership we have with the Portsmouth Crime Line who take anonymous tips and pay a cash reward of up to $1000 if the tip leads to an arrest, we hope to generate a response to action within the community," Chapman said in a statement.
The announcement of the initiative comes after someone mailed a gun to police. Chapman says she appreciates the idea, but says that's not the safest way to get a gun off the street. "I thought it was an indication that some of our community policing efforts are working," she said. "We are building community partnerships."
