Local police hope they’ll add another reason for Internet use: reporting crimes.

The Winnebago Countywide Crimestoppers organization recently added an Internet component to its Quick 50 program in an effort to give students more options for reporting school-based crimes.

Through the Quick 50 program, students who came forward to liaison officers or school officials to make reports leading to the confiscation of alcohol, weapons or drugs received a $50 payment within 24 hours. Students who don’t feel comfortable going directly to the liaison officer can now use the Internet.

Quick 50 operates in all of Oshkosh’s public middle and high schools as well as schools in Omro, Winneconne, Neenah and Menasha.

“If kids go to the officer, the principal or a guidance counselor, that kind of identifies them,” said Steve Herman, crime prevention deputy for the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department. “There’s a kind of nervousness there, so now kids can go home and do this.”

Last year, Quick 50 led to 11 drug convictions and seven convictions for alcohol. Unlike traditional Crimestoppers, which relies on a citizen board to decide award amounts, Quick 50 gives school officers a reward fund that can be distributed at the officer’s discretion.

There’s hope that the Internet will increase numbers. Overall, the Crimestoppers Web site has been successful.

Sgt. Steve Sagmeister of the Oshkosh Police Department said Winnebago County is one of few local Crimestoppers groups that have a Web component. Its use is growing. The Internet accounted for 14 of 72 total tips in 2003. This year, those contacting Crimestoppers used the Internet in four of 13 tips registered.

Herman said the Web site has also helped other departments. One tip for Winnebago County, Ill. was mistakenly entered on the local web site. Local officers forwarded the tip, leading to an arrest, he said.

Addition of Quick 50 to the Web site was another opportunity to make the site more useful, Herman said.

“This is another good tool in cases where students might be bringing drugs to school on a regular basis, or students might be drinking in the parking lot,” Herman said. “If there’s a weapon or crime in progress, we’d still hope that students contact their principal right away.”