Oakland police have quietly shelved cash rewards for tipsters after cutting ties with the now-defunct Oakland Crime Stoppers, officials confirmed. The change strips investigators of a long-standing tool to coax witnesses in serious cases and leaves at least one would-be reward recipient saying he is still waiting to be paid. Victims’ families and community advocates say the move undercuts already fragile trust between residents and law enforcement at a moment when police repeatedly stress that tips are crucial to solving violent crimes.
Police confirmation
In a statement to NBC Bay Area, the Oakland Police Department confirmed it has ended its partnership with Oakland Crime Stoppers and is no longer offering cash rewards for certain investigations……