The St. Landry Crime Stoppers program has closed 64 cases since its inception in June 2007, Jimmy Darbonne, board member and public face of the program, said during the organization’s annual installation and awards banquet Monday.

In addition, as of July 9, 2010, Darbonne said that St. Landry Crime Stoppers has been directly responsible for 33 arrests, the recovery of $141,666 in stolen property, and $530 worth of illegal drugs seized. The program has paid out $10,675 in rewards.

Crime Stoppers works by providing an anonymous tip line, 948-8477 (TIPS) that individuals can call to report information on crimes. If the tip results in a successful arrest or conclusion to the case, a reward of up to $1,000 may be made anonymously at a local bank using a code number given to the tipster.

The program is run as a non-profit, and all funds are generated through donations and fund raisers.

Every week, an unsolved crime is profiled on local radio and television stations.

Board President Gerald Roberts said that Crime Stoppers is working to make people less afraid of reporting information on crimes.

“It takes a combined effort between us and the community, and the media also plays a part in changing minds in our communities,” Roberts said. “We’re all in this together.”

The board also recognized the role of law enforcement with its annual Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, given to Lt. Joe Mamou (St. Landry Sheriff), Assistant Chief Charles Stelly (Washington, deceased), Lt. Michael Buck (Grand Coteau), Sgt. Vernon Jones (Opelousas), Bonnie Davis (Port Barre) and Reginald Wayne Pitcher (Palmetto).

The board also honored school resource officers Ronald Bernard (Beau Chene), Kimberly Joubert (Northwest), Shawna Senegal (North Central), Sandra Castille (SLATS) and Megan Venezia (Eunice).

Gary Lafleur of Eunice won a shot gun raffled off as part of a fund raiser for the Crime Stoppers program.