If it wasn’t for a nervous high school friend, today Sgt. Chris Kim would be an accomplished auto mechanic instead of the coordinator of Honolulu’s CrimeStoppers. While Kim was attending Honolulu Community College studying for an automotive degree, a high school friend suggested that he and several other friends try out for the Honolulu Police Department.

“I’m assuming he just did not want to test by himself,” said Kim, “we all went down, we tested, and I was the only one that got hired initially.”

With this new opportunity and an automotive degree to fall back on, Kim joined the police department in November 1998, unaware that his decision would turn into a 21-year career. Though a patrol officer at first, Kim became a detective in 2010, cycling through many investigative divisions including violent crimes, sex crimes, and homicide.

At first Kim was more interested in patrolling and investigative work than in taking over the role of CrimeStoppers coordinator, so the department began pursuing another candidate. But as the long hours away from his two daughters investigating crime weighed on him, a particularly intense suicide case changed his mind.

“This person had committed suicide and it was a messy situation, and I just remember the Widow just being distraught. As soon as the suicide thing happened, as I cleaned it up, I kind of told myself it was time for a career change,” said Kim, “I don’t know if it’s karma or what but the next day the supervisor calls me and says there’s been a change of plans, if you’re interested in running the program it’s yours”

CrimeStoppers Honolulu is a 501c3 non-profit which serves as the link between the HPD, the media, and the community. Though the organization is completely separate from the HPD, the program is run by a sworn law enforcement officer such as Kim, who talks with schools, the media, and the community about recent crime trends and ways that residents can help keep Honolulu safe.

“I think as residents of Oahu we do have somewhat of a responsibility to get involved.”

“It’s just been a huge blessing because it’s just opened up so many doors, and it’s a different type of police work, it’s more working in the community,” said Kim, “I do numerous presentations, I speak to area schools, so it’s more of a PR position now.”

Though the organization is best known for it’s anonymous community tip line with monetary rewards of up to $1,000, CrimeStoppers also runs the Student CrimeStoppers program, which was established in 1997 in partnership with the Department of Education. It has since been implemented in 58 schools, both public and private.

The program allows students to be proactive in keeping their schools safe by anonymously reporting any illegal activity such as contraband, bullying, and fighting. CrimeStoppers then works with school administrators and law enforcement to investigate credible leads. Recently, thanks to anonymous tips received at one particular school, three male students were arrested for the sexual assault of a female student. Just like those who provide information to the  community tip line, student tipsters with credible information receive a monetary reward for their assistance in helping to stop crime.

“When they call in their tips we never asked any of their information, we just want the tip: what is the crime that they know,” said Kim, “If their tip ends up being followed we then tell them to choose the First Hawaiian Bank of their choice and we start the reward process. From there we’ve been able to fight bullying issues, drug issues, and Contraband issues.”

CrimeStoppers also partnered with the Hawaiian Humane Society in 2001 to found the Animal CrimeStoppers program. The public can report cases of animal cruelty to CrimeStoppers anonymously, who then forward the tips to the Hawaiian Humane Society for investigation. Like their other programs, Animal CrimeStoppers also offers rewards for credible information.

For those who are still uncomfortable sharing information over the phone, the organization has made the process of reporting crime even more painless. CrimeStoppers introduced its P3 Tips App two years ago, allowing the public to submit tips to CrimeStoppers anonymously via their smartphone or tablet. It has since become the most popular way tips are submitted. In 2018 CrimeStoppers received a total of 3088 tips, 2,700 of which were received via the P3 app as opposed to their volunteer-monitored hotline.

“I think as residents of Oahu we do have somewhat of a responsibility to get involved,” said Kim, “we understand that there is the fear of retaliation or retribution, but we are able to guarantee that no one will ever find out who the tipster is. The Integrity of our program is based on the anonymity of it.”