The idea was simple. There was a number where tipsters could clue in law enforcement to an unsolved crime. If the tip led to an arrest, the person could claim a cash reward. The person would never have to disclose their identity.
At its peak in the 1980s and ’90s, Crime Stoppers of Oregon was helping to clear hundreds of cases per year and issuing thousands of dollars in checks through this strategy. The organization had placements in billboards, radio spots and during the Super Bowl.
But as the media landscape transitioned from analog to digital, its reach has waned…