Donation from Patch to Jumpstart New Nicolet Program

A new program in which students would receive rewards of up to $50 for tipping off police to problems with drugs, alcohol or weapons will become a reality, thanks to a donation from Fox Point-Bayside Patch.

Patch is donating the $250 needed to get the Quick 50 program off the ground.  After that startup money is gone, the program will be funded by the Glendale Police Department.

Patch , when Nicolet police liaison officer Kelly DeJonge presented the idea to Nicolet officials. The only thing preventing the program from going into place was funding.

At the time, DeJonge said the North Shore Crime Stoppers organization didn't have the money to launch Quick 50, "so the program has been at a standstill."

DeJonge said the program is very important to her.

"To me, one weapon is a big issue, or any drug is a big issue," she said at the time. "This school is my city, and I don't want that in my city." 

In 1993, the Greater Beloit Area Crime Stoppers funded a Quick 50 program in schools. Since its inception, the program has received more than 200 calls or tips that have lead to arrests.

Kids can not only call, but they can text information to a tip line. If the same guidelines are enacted as Beloit, students would be asked questions about the incident, but are specifically told not to state their name.

Confidentiality and anonymity is why the program works, she added. That student is then given a number and instructions to call back. If that tip lead to an arrest, the student can claim a reward of up to $50.

Fox Point-Bayside Patch Editor Sarah Worthman will present a check at the Nicolet School Board meeting on Monday.

Patch Regional Editor Mark Maley said helping to get the Quick 50 program off the ground was a no-brainer.

"We believe it's important for Patch to support programs that have a chance to make a difference in the community," Maley said. "Quick 50 is working elsewhere and there's no reason to believe it won't be successful at Nicolet. We're thrilled that this donation will help ensure that this worthwhile program gets off to a good start."