Crimestoppers president gets award from FBI

CHAMPAIGN – The only president that Champaign County Crimestoppers has ever known has been selected as a recipient of one of the FBI's most prestigious awards for non-agents.

Crimestoppers President John Hecker was surprised at the organization's meeting Thursday afternoon when FBI Assistant Special Agent In-Charge Emmerson Buie Jr. announced that Hecker had been chosen to receive the Director's Community Leadership Award.

"For over 100 years the FBI has been saying we always get our man. Today we got our man," Buie said. "We don't just go after the bad people. We go after the good people, too!"

Hecker, president and partner of Stipes Publishing LLC in Champaign, has served as president of the non-profit volunteer organization since its inception in 1986.

Under Hecker's leadership, Crimestoppers has solved more than 1,515 cases and paid rewards of more than $77,000 to people providing tips to help solve crimes.

"John Hecker has done an outstanding job, and his service to the community has been remarkable," Buie said.

Special Agent W. Bradley Ware, a community outreach specialist, said the award was created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their involvement in the community and their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence.

Ware said the FBI presents the award for one person from each of the FBI's 56 field offices across the nation.

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III will formally present Hecker with his award at the FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in March 2010.

Hecker had no idea he was getting the award. When Crimestoppers began its monthly meeting as usual at the Champaign Police Department, the FBI agents stayed in another part of the building before marching in to make the announcement.

Hecker said receiving the award was a humbling experience for him.

"I'm totally taken aback in a wonderful way; this means a great deal to me," Hecker said. "This helps to put Crimestoppers on the map."

Crimestoppers board member Dave Lawrence of Savoy said this is the first time anybody from Champaign County Crimestoppers has received the award.

"Nobody deserves this award more than John Hecker," Lawrence said.

Hecker said the award should be shared by all of Crimestoppers' volunteers.

"The people who are sitting here have made this organization what it is today," Hecker said. "When we started in 1986, we were begging and crawling for funds and assistance. Then we started walking and jogging. Crimestoppers isn't at a full run yet, but we are getting close."

Hecker thanked the law enforcement community for its growing support for Crimestoppers.

"There wasn't a warm feeling at the start because some law enforcement thought of us as a new group of do-gooders trying to tell them how to do their jobs," Hecker said. "But once we helped solve major crimes in their jurisdictions, they came on board very quickly. We exist to support the local law enforcement agencies."

Hecker also thanked the local newspapers, television stations and radio stations for their support for Crimestoppers over the years.

"The media was supportive from day one, and that has been so beneficial to us," he said.

Buie said Hecker was also being recognized for Champaign County Crimestoppers' use of texting, Internet technology and social networking.

According to Champaign Deputy Police Chief Troy Daniels, a Crimestoppers board member, the organization gets 25 percent of its tips through text messages sent through cell phones and through its Web site.

"The important thing about Web and text tips is young people are using that type of technology," Daniels said. "If we want to reach them, we need to provide an opportunity for them to use the methods they are comfortable with."

In addition, Crimestoppers is now using social networking to provide messages through Facebook.

Also on this date

• Jurors hear from accused in murder of Champaign couple
• Vermilion animal shelter director suspended
• Rankin teen killed in early-morning crash
• Sanitary district gets $20 million loan
• Construction near Goodwin, Green to close streets
• St. Joseph-Ogden, UI graduate dies in Baghdad
• UI receives H1N1 vaccine, but not the kind it needs
• Champaign man accused of swindling neighbor
• Danville museum volunteer honored for service
• Obituaries

» More