New kiosks set up at Walmart and City Hall could help answer unsolved crimes, law enforcement officials said.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and several sponsors were on hand last week for the unveiling of a pair of Community Pro-Tektor kiosks, the latest tool made available to Allen County Crime Stoppers.
“We’re hoping these are great tools for us,” Iola police officer and Kansas Crime Stoppers President Mike Ford said. “And they’re not just for crime,” but can also provide information about events, public service announcements and weather alerts.
The 5-foot kiosks have three screens, the top one of which will ask for help on unsolved crimes in the area. The middle screen spotlights the sponsors who help fund the devices, which cost $8,000 to equip, as well as public service announcements or information about upcoming events. The third screen will show those wanted on arrest warrants.
A pair of QR codes are also a part of the kiosk, for cell phone users to scan and either download a Crime Stoppers app, or to make an online tip to law enforcement.
As with other Crime Stoppers projects, tipsters remain anonymous.
“We don’t want to know your name, just your information,” Ford said.
The kiosks can be updated in a matter of minutes, Ford said, which can be invaluable if severe weather is imminent.
If an Amber Alert — issued when law enforcement believe a child has been kidnapped — is issued, those alerts can be posted immediately
The key to the kiosks’ success, Ford said, is their visibility.
With roughly 3,300 people walking through Walmart’s doors daily, organizers figured having one set up at the exit door would be ideal.
“By character, people are kind of nosey,” Ford joked. “We hope this doesn’t create a bottleneck at the exits.”
The second kiosk will be set up in the lobby at City Hall for now, although Ford hopes to move it to one of Iola’s convenience stores in the near future.
The digital kiosks have been used by Crime Stoppers groups in Florida for years, often with great effect. Some have been spotted in Arkansas recently, and now in Allen County, one of the first groups in Kansas to have such devices.
Sponsors who donated to help purchase the kiosks were Allen Community College, the Allen County attorney’s office, Community National Bank, Landmark Bank, PSI, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, Sonic Equipment and Walmart.
Crime Stoppers will pay about $600 annually in service fees to keep the kiosks up and running.
“I’m hoping we have trouble to pay these awards” resulting from the added visibility the kiosks provide, Ford said.
The unveiling was capped with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. In place of ribbon, however, Ford opted to use crime scene tape.
Kiosks latest tool in Crime Stoppers arsenal
