Subject:
Title
Letter of Agreement authorizing Crime Stoppers Trust Fund Management for Fiscal Years 2026-2029.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Letter of Agreement authorizing Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, Inc. to apply for, receive, and expend Crime Stoppers Trust Fund monies for Fiscal Years 2026-2029.
• The Crime Stoppers Trust Fund grant award program engages the community, law enforcement and the media in a unified attempt to reduce crime.
• From 2001 through 2026, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office housed the Crime Stoppers of Pinellas program and managed all programmatic and financial aspects of the annual grant awards.
• Effective July 1, 2026, Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay will merge with Crime Stoppers of Pinellas and manage program services for Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties.
• The Letter of Agreement is required by the Florida Office of the Attorney General every three years to document the partnership between the County and the Crime Stoppers organization that provides services to the citizens and law enforcement agencies within its jurisdiction.
• This agreement has no fiscal impact on Pinellas County.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Healthy and Safe Communities:
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
This Letter of Agreement authorizes Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, Inc. to act as Pinellas County, Florida's agent solely for the purpose of applying for, receiving, and expending Crime Stoppers Trust Fund monies for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. This request is made in compliance with the requirements of Section 16.555(5)(b), F.S., and Rule 2A-9.002 (2) F.A.C.
Background/Explanation:
In 1988, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Crime Stoppers Act and created a trust fund by imposing a surcharge on fines for criminal offenses collected by county and circuit court clerks. The funding is distributed through the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Crime Stoppers Trust Fund.
Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County operated through the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office from 2001 to 2026 to provide services to all local law enforcement agencies within the County. Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay was established in 1988 and currently services Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. Effective July 1, 2026, Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay will merge with Crime Stoppers of Pinellas and manage services for Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties.
Fiscal Impact:
This agreement has no fiscal impact on Pinellas County.
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Florida’s Office of the Attorney General
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County, Inc.
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay, Inc.
Attachments:
FY25-26 Crime Stoppers of Pinellas Grant Award Agreement
Letter of Support from Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Letter of Agreement