LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Roberto Treviño,

 The Laredo Independent School District Campus Crime Stoppers was hailed as one of the best during their state convention. The organization competed with other districts in the state during the 16th annual Texas Campus Crime Stoppers Conference held in Odessa, Texas.

 LISD Campus Crime Stoppers Organization was recognized for bringing back several awards and honors. For the third year in a row, they received the award for best website in the state produced by Armando Saldaña, which highlights the many accomplishments of the program. They also claim the Best General News Print story written by Bobby Treviño and published in the Laredo Morning Times and LISD A+ Newsletter on the Memorial Middle School program sponsor Antonio Vela, who was the Texas Sponsor of the Year. Also Adrienne Flores, Lamar Middle School eighth grade student, was selected as an Alternate Ambassador. Flores was selected for writing an essay explaining why she wanted to join the elite group which introduces guest speakers, help conducts student projects during the conference, and acts as proctors for the adult seminars. Ambassador Caprice Gonzalez, a freshman at Nixon High School, and Ambassador Amanda Castaneda, an eighth grader at Lamar Middle School, participated in the opening ceremonies where they introduced the honor guard.

 Also during the conference, Laredo ISD Campus Crime Stoppers mascot “Crime Buster” was introduced as the Texas Crime Stoppers mascot. Buster who is the ideal mascot will represent Texas Crime Stoppers throughout the state. His costume consists of a larger than life cowboy hat and a western shirt with the Lone Star Flag. He carries cell phones in his holsters to show the public that an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers works just as well as a weapon to stop crime.

 Last year, Campus Crime Stoppers received 827 tips and paid close to $18,000 in rewards. The Campus Crime Stoppers, which partners with the LISD Police Department, is a nationally recognized organization which provides students with the opportunity to give anonymous information by phone, text or online about any illegal activities at their campus or by students off campus. This organization gives rewards for tips that prevent a crime or tips which lead to the arrest or detention of any student committing an offense.

 Crime Stoppers has helped solve over one million crimes across the nation. By encouraging citizens to help reduce crime by combining media awareness, monetary rewards and anonymity for informants, Crime Stoppers has created an effective method for solving crimes and helping citizens take back control over their neighborhoods.

 Tips may be reported to the tips line at 744-0083 or to the campus crime stoppers website at www.laredoisd.org/crimestoppers.