The Board of Directors of Middlesex County Crime Stoppers elected H. James Polos as their new chairman at the May meeting of the organization.
Polos will succeed Anthony Caputo, police director from New Brunswick, who is the founding member and founding chairman of the organization since its inception 10 years ago.
“On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, I offer our sincerest congratulations to Jim Polos on being elected as Middlesex County Crime Stoppers’ new chairman and thank him for his continued service to the residents of Middlesex County,” Board of County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios said in the prepared statement. “Polos’ commitment to the greater community and incredible array of skills will add to an already strong board and keep Crime Stoppers a viable and effective agency.”
Polos’ involvement with the community and law enforcement includes being a member of the New Jersey Police Training Commission, a member of the NJ State Chiefs of Police Association Departmental Accreditation Team, a volunteer emergency management director for Highland Park, a member of NJ Department of Homeland Security Interfaith Advisory Council, and currently the executive director of the Middlesex County Improvement Authority.
“It is truly an honor to now serve as chairman, and I look forward to building on the successes of this essential organization while charting new opportunities to serve our county for the next 10 years. The work of Crime Stoppers in coordination with law enforcement and community-based organizations is invaluable to help solve criminal cases which makes our communities safer places to live and work,” Polos, who is a former county freeholder, the predecessor to commissioner, said in the statement. “I am fortunate to step into a leadership position that has been so aptly developed by Director Caputo in his 10 years of service and gratified that he has agreed to continue to serve the organization as chairman emeritus. We owe much thanks to the founding members and all members of the board for their hard work and dedication.”
Under Caputo’s leadership, Crime Stoppers has had over 1,000 tips that have led to more than 40 arrests for various types of crimes, according to the statement.
In 2016, funding was provided to the K-9 Search and Rescue program that utilizes highly trained bloodhounds to find missing children and adults, and has been credited with multiple saves by finding individuals who were missing and suicidal, according to the statement.
Additionally, Caputo was instrumental in organizing fundraising events for the non-profit to provide cash incentives for anonymous tips which helped solve crimes, according to the statement.
“Crime Stoppers has been an outstanding program, assisting law enforcement and the people we serve across Middlesex County. It is an honor to be a founding member of this great organization and a privilege to have served as chairman for the last ten years. I wish our new Chairman Jim Polos all the best and look forward to continued success and achievements for the Crime Stoppers organization,” Caputo said in the statement.
Crime Stoppers has developed a close working relationship with the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office to determine where tips and rewards can be helpful to solve open cases, according to the statement.
“Crime Stoppers helps Middlesex County as a whole and contributes to our ability to provide a safe and secure community to raise a family. The MCIA congratulates Jim Polos on his new role. Polos’ background and expertise will enhance the organization’s work across our county,” Chairman of the Middlesex County Improvement Authority James Nolan said in the statement.
