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Bonneville Power Administration For Your Information, Support and Action: The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) would like to share updated information about our crime prevention – crime deterrence program, as well as ask for your ongoing support in its implementation. BPA’s electrical grid provides 80% of the high transmission in the Pacific Northwest. We provide about one half of all the electricity consumed in the region. Keeping our system up and operating is absolutely essential to the welfare and safety of this part of the country. As you might know, Bonneville Power Administration initiated a crime deterrence program under the “Crime Watch” in 1994. Since then, 2 other agencies (one Federal and one State ) have signed onto the program, asking the public to be their eyes and ears if they should see anything suspicious. The purpose of the program has been to deter criminal acts
such as illegal dumping, trespass, vandalism, theft, burglary, and threats to
employees. Since the attacks on September 11, 2001, we have been asking that
people report any suspicious or unusual activity they might witness in and
around electrical substations, transmission lines, generation stations, dams,
locks and power-houses. Since 1994 BPA has promoted a reward of up to $1,000 for
information lading to the arrest and conviction of individuals doing criminal
acts on BPA property. Within the last year, BPA has increased the reward to
$25,000. The program relies upon monetary rewards of (up to $25,000 ) to
informants who provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of
suspects. We also rely upon our toll free nationwide hotline number
1-800-437-2744. The program has been highly successful, resulting in hundreds of informant reports, scores of arrests, and tens of thousands of dollars in restitution and recovered property. More importantly, it has achieved a measurable decrease in the incidence of gunshot vandalism to our transmission lines and insulators. Cumulatively, nearly $ 4,000,000 in ratepayer’s money has been saved since the inception of the program. If you have any questions, please contact us at our toll free line 1-800-437-2744. BPA is hopeful that, through your regular interaction with the public, including your conduct of investigations, that you will help us in spreading the word about our region-wide “Neighborhood Watch” crime deterrence program. We sincerely believe that through constructive partnerships and alliances, we can all work effectively together in reducing crime, controlling costs, combating terrorism and keeping the lights on. Thank you for your assistance and support in this effort. Mike Berg, Coordinator
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