About Us

Sponsor

Crime Stoppers is comprised of diverse, active and dedicated community representatives. Crime Stoppers provides a method for local law enforcement to receive information on crimes. These efforts increase tips, which in turn increase arrests in our community. For over 35 years, Crime Stopper of the Sioux Empire is a non-profit organization led by a Board of Directors that provides direction as to the financial and promotional activities of the program. The Board enhances the community involvement aspect and its function is vital to the programs success. Rewards and program funding is made possible through donations and fundraising events such as the Annual Shred Event. NO TAX DOLLARS are involved! The Crime Stoppers of the Sioux Empire Board meets monthly to evaluate tips leading to arrests and decide on the size of their cash rewards.

Who is Involved

Name	Position
Jesse Callahan	2024 President
Jessie Schmidt	2024 Vice President
Barb Hascall	2024 Treasurer
Janet Gillespie	2024 Secretary
Wade Backman	Board Member
Joe Piacentino	Board Member
Mark McClung	Board Member
Glenna Burns	Board Member
Dan Peters	Board Member
Summer Raderschadt	Board Member
Todd Mundhenke	Board Member
Gary Robinson	Board Member
Kendall Fisher	Board Member
Chad Krier	Board Member
Otto Hagedorn	Advisory Member (non-voting)
Kathy Lueth	Advisory Member (non-voting)
Lisa Ottmar	Advisory Member (non-voting)
Tim Stark	Advisory Member (non-voting)
Darcy Anderson	Advisory Member (non-voting)
Josh Callahan	Advisory Member (non-voting)
Norman Dittman	Advisory Member (non-voting)
Doug Flora	Advisory Member (non-voting)
Jay Buchholz	Advisory Member (non-voting)
Carolyn Dick	Advisory Member (non-voting)
Sgt. Paul Creviston (Sioux Falls PD)	Community Advisor (non-voting)
Josh Phillips (Minnehaha County Sheriff's office)	Community Advisor (non-voting)
Miles Schumacher (Legal Counsel)	Community Advisor (non-voting)

Local History:

Gordon Olson was responsible for bringing the concept of Crime Stoppers to Sioux Falls in the later part of 1986 when he called representatives of area service clubs to see if there was an interest in starting the program here. The first meeting was held with the newly formed citizen board on January 30, 1987, at which the first reward of $200 was approved. For the first year Crime Stoppers worked through the Sioux Falls Area Foundation.

Crime Stoppers of Sioux Falls, INC., was formally incorporated as a South Dakota not for profit corporation on December 29, 1987. On August 30, 1999 its name changed to Crime Stoppers of the Sioux Empire, Inc. The current name reflects its affiliation with law enforcement in all the communities and rural areas of Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties.

The Board of Directors continues to be comprised primarily of members of area service clubs along with a number of other concerned citizens. Representatives from the Sioux Falls Police Department and Minnehaha and Lincoln County Sheriff's Offices also participate in the monthly board meetings.