The Yukon Crime Stoppers program could be in jeopardy.

The volunteer board responsible for the program, which offers cash for anonymous tips, has all but shut down due to a lack of volunteer interest and falling behind on paperwork president Michael Kearney said last Thursday.

To be recognized by the government, all non-profit societies in the territory must submit annual financial statements, copies of minutes from general meetings and other paperwork.

As the board's only active member for the last two or three years, Kearney said it's been a struggle to hold meetings or complete the necessary paperwork.

A strong, active board would normally have seven members, he told the Star.

The group, known as the Yukon Crime Stoppers Society, has fallen out of good standing with the government department which monitors non-profits.

Rhonda Horte, deputy registrar of corporate affairs for the Department of Community Services, said the society last filed documents in October 2006.

At the time, the group was listed as a category C organization, meaning it had revenues of less than $20,000 and had received grants and donations of less than $5,000, Horte said.

Currently, the organization's accounts have not been frozen, she said, although that is something the government has the power to do.

In order to get back in good standing, the organization would have to complete all of its paperwork and pay a $10 filing fee for each missed year.

"Basically, we're in a state of flux until we get a board, have an annual general meeting and file all the appropriate documents,” Kearney said.

Despite problems at the board level, the Crime Stoppers tipline —1-800 222-TIPS — is still in service, and accepting anonymous information about crimes through the national call centre in Ontario.

But the lack of a board means there has not been anyone championing fund-raising to pay for information.

It is illegal for a Crime Stoppers organization to accept money from the government to pay for tips, Kearney said. That means all of Crime Stoppers' tip money comes from donations from the public, and is kept separate from any other cash.

"That's one of my top concerns,” he said. "We don't have anyone taking care of that part of the society.”

Anyone who provides information leading to a conviction, the seizure of illicit substances or the retrieval of stolen property is eligible for a reward payment of up to $2,000.

The last time he checked, the organization's tip account had "a few thousand dollars,” Kearney said.

Under normal circumstances, it would be up to the board to review tips and decide which ones are worthy of a cash reward.

But Kearney said the idea of making those kinds of decisions on his own, makes him uncomfortable.

"Without an active board, I don't think it's appropriate at this time,” he said, quickly adding that if it was a tip relating to a major case, something could still be worked out.

The Yukon program, which began in the 1980s, receives an average of about 40 tips annually.

The wanted poster program, which is run by the RCMP, was launched in April 2007. By that year's end, the program had received more than 130 anonymous tips.

Kearney pointed out that the territory's organization is run entirely by volunteers and receives no core funding from any level of government.

"Most programs down south in the major city centres, they get either funding from the city or funding from some other government source to hire a paid Crime Stoppers co-ordinator,” he said.

"That person's job is to make sure all the filing is done but also promoting the program in the community. Those are the things we just have not been able to do with such a small board.”

Unfortunately, since the organization has fallen out of good standing with the Department of Community Services, it has become ineligible for most government grants.

Meanwhile, the RCMP appear to have stopped producing the posters which encourage citizens to call in tips.

The Star, which has been publishing the advisories every Friday for the last several years, has not received anything new for the last month or so.

"I think what's happened is that they've seen that the board is inactive in terms of reviewing tips and so they've stopped producing the posters,” Kearney said.

"Whitehorse detachment has long been an enthusiastic supporter of the program and the local society and we value and act on the tips we receive from Crime Stoppers when they are available to us,” said RCMP spokesperson Don. Rogers.

"In recent months, we understand that the local Crime Stoppers has not been in a position to run the program as they normally would.

"Unfortunately, we cannot step in to fill that gap ourselves, as it would be contrary to the intent and purpose of the program, which is to provide independent and anonymous alternative to going directly to police with a report about a crime.

"We have reached out to the local Crime Stoppers society in recent months and even days to discuss a way forward.  We hope that we can support the program in getting back on its feet, but until that time, we cannot resume all of the activities associated with it.”

Rogers said the police are currently re-tooling the process so they can continue to issue posters with information about local crimes and asking the public for tips.

After eight years as the society's president, Kearney remains optimistic he can get the program running again with a little help.

"The board is suffering from lack of volunteers. There is no intention for the program to be dead forever here; we just need volunteers,” he said.

"I'm not being critical of anyone; I think the Yukon is just inundated with different groups needing volunteers, and it's just difficult to keep a small organization like this running.”

Anyone interested in volunteering with Crime Stoppers Yukon can contact Kearney at

mkearney@northwestel.net