Bluegrass Crime Stoppers offers more rewards for info about unsolved Lexington homicides
Bluegrass Crime Stoppers is offering increased awards in exchange for information about Lexington’s unsolved homicide cases.
The Lexington Police Department and Bluegrass Crime Stoppers officials announced the initiative Thursday. Bluegrass Crime Stoppers pledged $10,000 in total and will give out up to $2,500 for a tip that leads to an arrest in an unsolved homicide case.
“We’ve seen in the past that when we have the ability to do so, when we can incentivize or create an opportunity to enhance rewards, we take advantage of that,” said David Ashford, former chair of Bluegrass Crime Stoppers. “And the outcomes from that have proven to have success.”
Bluegrass Crime Stoppers, an organization that helps publicize unsolved homicides, made a similar pledge in 2022, and it proved to be successful. Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said six homicide suspects have been arrested due to tips in the last two years.
“We know that this is working,” said Kristin Pflum, the social media manager for Bluegrass Crime Stoppers. “We saw this initiative work for us so well in 2022. It really got people talking, we saw a surge in tips that year.”
Nearly half of last year’s homicide cases — 10 of 22 — remain unsolved, according to crime data from Lexington police. Police are still searching for a suspect in both of the city’s homicides so far this year.
For the cases that have been solved, police often cite the real-time intelligence center and Fusus cameras as critical investigative tools in solving the crime. While those resources are helpful, Weathers said tips and community involvement remain an important resource for investigators.
“Technology doesn’t replace working with the community,” Weathers said. “A tip can help provide crucial information that could help us solve a crime or prevent another one from occurring.”
All tips submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers are completely anonymous. Usually rewards for helpful tips are up to $1,500, depending on the charges involved in the crime.
Officials are hoping the increased award will motivate the community to share information anonymously to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers.
“The community’s job is to engage and be a part of the solution. The police department by itself can’t do it,” Ashford said. “Crime Stoppers is here just to be that pathway to share information, and community members can know that they can do that confidentially without an identity being revealed.”
How do I submit a crime tip in Lexington?
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers by calling their 24/7 hotline at 859-253-2020. Tips can also be submitted on their website and on p3tips.com.
“Each homicide represents a loss of a member of our community, and while the increased payout won’t bring back the family’s loved one, it would help by providing them justice and closure,” Weathers said.
