Crime Stoppers International Award taken by 307 BW Airman

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jeff Walston
  • 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  An international award was won by a 307th Bomb Wing Airman, the Crime Stoppers 2012 International Coordinator of the Year Award was presented to Master Sgt. James Taliaferro, a recent retiree from the 307th Security Forces Squadron, during the 33rd CSI training conference that was held in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept 30 - Oct. 5, 2012.

Taliaferro, who is also a 22 year veteran of the Shreveport Police Department, was chosen from a group of more than 800 Crime Stopper programs in over 26 countries around the globe.

Crime Stoppers is a program designed to allow the police, the public and the press work together to fight crime. Crime Stoppers International's vision is to advance and support an effective crime-solving, crime reduction and crime prevention organization throughout the world; working in partnership with the Community, Media and Law Enforcement.

"I am privileged to have received this award and to be recognized by my peers on a global level," said Taliaferro. "However, while the award is singularly presented to me, I share it with those investigators within the Shreveport Police Department and Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office, who continually put their trust in me, and for the opportunity to serve them in their quest to solve crime by arresting those who commit them. Crime Stoppers does not solve crime, investigators do; and we have the best in the business."

The Shreveport/Caddo Parish Crime Stoppers Board of Directors, appointed Taliaferro as the Shreveport/Caddo Parish Crime Stoppers Coordinator in December of 2004, said Don Razinsky, president, Crime Stoppers Shreveport/Caddo Parish. He immediately began utilizing his contacts in the media to produce public safety announcements and additional 15 and 30 second video clips on crime prevention.

According to his nomination letter for this prestigious award, Taliaferro talked to anyone who would listen about Crime Stoppers. He started with his own department, attending roll calls to inform his fellow officers of the program's history, benefits and provided literature to the officers for distribution to our community. He increased speaking engagements to approximately 2 -3 a week to civic groups like the Kiwanis, Optimist and Lion's Clubs as well as other neighborhood associations.

Taliaferro realized critical information in broadcasts on local news channels was being missed by much of the public and launched a Youtube channel and FaceBook page, connecting the link to the Crime Stoppers webpage. This gave many local citizens the chance view the original broadcasts.

Recently he was selected to represent more than 50 other Crime Stoppers programs in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama as the Crime Stoppers USA committee chair for membership for Region 5.

"Learning that Master Sergeant Taliaferro was selected for this award came as no surprise," said Capt. Mark Lee, commander, 307th SFS. "He is truly a dedicated professional, whether it is in his capacity with the police department or as our First Sergeant. He embodies the Air Force Core Values. We are so proud of him for receiving this recognition."