VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach Crime Solvers came together Friday morning to recognize the accomplishments they've made over the last 42 years.
As of 2024, Crime Solvers has received nearly 41,000 anonymous tips regarding crime in the area. From those tips, police have made more than 8,000 arrests.
Crime Solvers also helps motivate people to provide a tip to police through rewards. The organization has approved $1.3 million in reward money to go to those who provide information that leads to an arrest.
The organization also honored a Virginia Beach detective who chased down a tip to solve an armed robbery and gave awards to several more law enforcement officials. Here’s a breakdown of those recognitions:
Clyde D Hathaway Award: Det. Daniel Walker/VBPD
"Det Walker was assigned an armed robbery case. Det Walker obtained and disseminated photos through Crime Solvers and the media, and a tip was generated identifying a suspect. Through the cooperation of the tipster, who supplied additional information, Det Walker ultimately verified the suspects cell number, obtained search warrants for the phone location that corroborated the suspect's location at the crime locations, and got arrest and search warrants. The suspect lived in Chesapeake, and the Chesapeake PD identified similarities between the VB case and a rash of crimes in Chesapeake. Det Walker's crime solver's tip and his own investigative dedication enabled the apprehension of a prolific violent offender."
Inaugural Award Recognition for the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office: Master Deputy D Fantino-Life Saving Award
"Master Deputy Fantino was serving court papers in the City when a cardiac arrest call was dispatched. MD Fantino realized he was close by and notified the dispatcher he was responding. Upon his arrival, MD Fantino conducted an initial assessment, realized the victim had no pulse, and commenced CPR. After several rounds of compressions, victim's pulse was re-established and victim was responsive. While awaiting arrival of VB Fire and EMS to take over patient care, MD Fantino maintained control of the scene, communication with dispatch and responding units, and guided the patient's husband."
Charles R Wall Award to a Virginia Beach School Resource Officer (Named in memory of former Virginia Beach Police Chief Wall): MPO C. Kolmer
"In May 2023, MPO Kolmer received a tip through crime solvers that a student was smoking weed on a bus as she was reporting for school. (Tip #054-M15018) He looked over the tip information and conversed with the anonymous person gaining valuable details that he could use during his investigation. MPO Kolmer worked with school administration and ultimately determined that several vaping pens for marijuana and nicotine were on school grounds. MPO Kolmer's investigation shed light on the methods high schoolers were bringing in illicit substances into the schools. This case was cleared with the IBR accepted status of an arrest, and the dissemination of the methods to other SROs which resulted in the reduction of these substances and items bring brought into our schools."
Commonwealth’s Attorney Prosecutor’s Award: Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney C. Andrew Rice
"Andrew began in the Office in 2011 and has distinguished himself as a leader in the Office and the community. He carries one of the heaviest caseloads in the office. Last year he handled 15 major cases (in addition to his normal caseload), many of which were homicides or sexual assaults. He took five (5) of those cases to jury and secured lengthy prison sentences against several violent offenders. He is a recognized gang expert within the office and serves as a point of contact for law enforcement to put together gang prosecutions. He is a founding member of the Office’s Sexual Assault Response Team, to ensure that sexual assault cases are swiftly reviewed for sufficient evidence. Andrew regularly trains the police department, specifically the Special Victims Unit, and makes himself available to the police department when needed. He is involved in the community and regularly speaks at Virginia Beach schools, works with Kellam High School’s mock trial program, and assists with School Resource Officer training. He continues to look for opportunities to make our community and Commonwealth better, and never hesitates to volunteer his time and efforts to do so."