2008 Woodie Awards
University Police launch new crime tip line campaign
Andrew Whitman
Issue date: 11/20/07 Section: News
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The Crime Stoppers tip line has been around for years, and after ironing out a few wrinkles, a new campaign initiative began recently.
Early this semester, the Whitewater and University Police departments approached the Walworth County Crime Stoppers program to gain support for a new campaign initiative for the tip line. Walworth county Crime Stoppers were more than happy to assist with the new project Deanne Thornsen, a University Police program associate said.
"The chief asked Crime Stoppers to help out," Thornsen said, "Most of the funding came from [Walworth County] Crime Stoppers," and a private organization.
The original tip line had two numbers, an 800 number and the local number 262-723-COPS.
"There was a problem with the 800 number… It kept getting hacked into, so they had to go with the local number instead," Thornsen said.
She said people were somehow making phone calls through the 800 number but there were no problems with the local number. Following the finalization of the 723-COPS number, Whitewater Police Department Chief James Coan wanted to get more advertising out in the community.
Coan teamed up with University Police Chief Matt Kiederlen to get the campaign started. The two turned to UW-Whitewater Marketing and Media Relations department for help designing a poster, Coan said.
UW-Whitewater Marketing and Media Relations senior artist Joy Yang worked closely on the poster.
"They had two goals, to promote a partnership between the city and the police department(s) ... And anyone can do it," Yang said.
It took about two months from when Coan and Kiederlen first approached Yang to when the posters were ready to be displayed. Yang said they decided to limit the text to the theme and the number and created a comic book- type theme to appeal to a younger audience. Downtown Whitewater themes were also added at the request by Coan to help convey that everyone in Whitewater is encouraged to use the tip line.
Early this semester, the Whitewater and University Police departments approached the Walworth County Crime Stoppers program to gain support for a new campaign initiative for the tip line. Walworth county Crime Stoppers were more than happy to assist with the new project Deanne Thornsen, a University Police program associate said.
"The chief asked Crime Stoppers to help out," Thornsen said, "Most of the funding came from [Walworth County] Crime Stoppers," and a private organization.
The original tip line had two numbers, an 800 number and the local number 262-723-COPS.
"There was a problem with the 800 number… It kept getting hacked into, so they had to go with the local number instead," Thornsen said.
She said people were somehow making phone calls through the 800 number but there were no problems with the local number. Following the finalization of the 723-COPS number, Whitewater Police Department Chief James Coan wanted to get more advertising out in the community.
Coan teamed up with University Police Chief Matt Kiederlen to get the campaign started. The two turned to UW-Whitewater Marketing and Media Relations department for help designing a poster, Coan said.
UW-Whitewater Marketing and Media Relations senior artist Joy Yang worked closely on the poster.
"They had two goals, to promote a partnership between the city and the police department(s) ... And anyone can do it," Yang said.
It took about two months from when Coan and Kiederlen first approached Yang to when the posters were ready to be displayed. Yang said they decided to limit the text to the theme and the number and created a comic book- type theme to appeal to a younger audience. Downtown Whitewater themes were also added at the request by Coan to help convey that everyone in Whitewater is encouraged to use the tip line.
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