Bluegrass Crime Stoppers hosts fundraiser to reduce the number of unsolved crimes

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — There have been 51 shootings, including homicides, in Lexington in the last eight months. Many of these cases remain unsolved, but with the help of the Bluegrass Crime Stoppers tip line reward program, the community can help police officers fill the gap.

On Saturday morning, Bluegrass Crime Stoppers held its annual shooting contest, welcoming shooters of all skill levels to raise money for their Tipline Rewards program.

The hotline accepts tips to help Lexington police solve crimes. Over the past three years, the program has been successful. David Ashford, president of Bluegrass Crime Stoppers, says the program has resulted in more than 600 felony arrests, about 100 illegal weapons seized and helped get hundreds of pounds of drugs off the streets. Ashford says this wouldn't have been possible without the community's help.

“This is a way for people to get involved and do something,” Ashford said.

Ashford says what sets the Bluegrass Crime Stoppers hotline apart from others is the fact that people can feel safe remaining anonymous.

“Our reporting system encrypts the information,” Ashford said. “This system allows people to come forward and trust that their information will not be disclosed.”

Soliciting tips helps ease the workload for the Lexington Police Department, which is about 70 officers short of its full staffing level, according to Ashford.

“This way we can help officers see the connection,” Ashford said. “It's faster and you can get straight to the scene to solve the crime.”

If you have a tip for Bluegrass Crime Stoppers, call 859-253-2020. If your information leads to an arrest, you could earn up to $1,500.