The Windsor Police Service has temporarily paused its participation in the Crime Stoppers program following a cybersecurity breach. Police said the breach involved a third-party management platform used by the non-profit organization to receive and manage anonymous tips. Effective immediately, Windsor police are asking members of the public to share information about crimes and public safety concerns directly with the service rather than through Crime Stoppers. “We recognize the important role Crime Stoppers has played in supporting public safety and police investigations over the years, and we acknowledge the seriousness with which the organization is addressing this matter,” said Karel DeGraaf, Deputy Chief of Operational Support. “Ensuring the safety of our community and maintaining public trust remain our highest priorities. We will reassess our partnership with Crime Stoppers once appropriate safeguards and security measures have been implemented.” Police said this precautionary measure will help protect confidential information while Crime Stoppers reviews the breach and implements additional security measures. The cybersecurity incident, which involved the disclosure of more than 1.5 million tips submitted through a third-party platform across Canada, did not impact Windsor Police’s internal information systems. Members of the public with information about a crime or public safety concern are encouraged to contact Windsor Police directly. Non-emergency information can be submitted online at https://windsorpolice.ca/services/reporting/online or by calling 519-258-6111. In an emergency, call 911.
