Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama Board Chairman Frank Barefield, on left, joined Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry on Tuesday to announce a new partnership between Crime Stoppers and the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office.

Area residents with information about wanted criminals or unsolved crimes may be eligible for cash rewards through a new partnership by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. 

Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry joined representatives from Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama to announce their partnership at a press conference on Tuesday. 

Cullman is the eighth county to partner with Crime Stoppers, joining Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Claire and Walker counties.

With a large portion of I-65 in Cullman County, there are people who are not from Cullman County who commit crimes in the area, and the expanded reach of Crime Stoppers will help law enforcement catch more of those people, Gentry said.

“I think one of the best things that we can do in law enforcement is use tools,” he said. “This is an investigative tool that we need to reach other locations besides Cullman County.”

People will be able to submit tips about crimes to Crime Stoppers, and they will coordinate with the Sheriff’s Office to identify potential suspects in those crimes, he said.

The Crime Stoppers website will also have a list of wanted criminals and unsolved crimes in Cullman County, he said.

Gentry said any person reporting information will stay anonymous, and people should be confident that they will not be identified in any way if they do decide to report something.

Crime Stoppers Board Chairman Frank Barefield said he and his organization are very excited to work with Gentry and the rest of the Sheriff’s Office, and Crime Stoppers will do everything they can to try and cut down on crime and get criminals in jail.

He said Crime Stoppers is a simple way to report tips to law enforcement, and if a tip leads to an arrest, the person who reported it is eligible for a cash reward.

Just this year, Crime Stoppers has already paid out more than $100,000 in reward money, he said.

“Crime Stoppers is really the best deal in town if you’ve got information,” Barefield said. “You don’t give your name, you get cash money just for information that you’ve got.”

Gentry said the partnership with Crime Stoppers will greatly benefit both the Sheriff’s Office and the residents of Cullman County.

“It’s given us a new approach to identifying and arresting criminals,” he said.

To report information regarding a crime or a wanted person, call Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama at 205-254-7777, visit their website at crimestoppersmetroal.com or visit the Crime Stoppers Facebook page.