Story By: Noelle Newton

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{NORTH TULSA, Okla.} July 5 - A known North Tulsa gang member and convicted murderer is off the streets tonight and so are other criminals.

Police say it's all thanks to the Confidential Reliable Citizens Program where people can phone in anonymous tips to police.  It's been in effect for more than a month.

When people see a crime in progress, they call 911, give a secret code name and the details, and an officer comes right out.  Police say with this program, they've finally broken the silence on the streets.

July 4th is a holiday Dayo Adetula will never feel like celebrating.  It's when he lost his son Joseph, who was shot nine times just down the street from his house.

"I thought it was fireworks."  It's been two years and Dayo still doesn't know who killed his son.  "They are out there and I know if they will kill again."

Dayo knows people saw something and he also knows they'll probably never tell.  He was once like that too.  "It used to be, 'it's not my problem'."

But he's changed and so have 26 of his neighbors.  Major Paul Williams heads up the Confidential Reliable Citizens Program.  "They're trusting us to do the right thing.  We're trusting them to provide accurate, factual information."

Williams says for the first time the trust is there.  So far, those involved in the program have called in eight crimes.  "Eight doesn't seem like a lot in the grand scheme of things, but those were eight calls we wouldn't have gotten before because people were simply afraid to call."

Dayo is happy to see this change in his neighborhood.  "I would call them heroes."  He hopes more people will do the right thing and fight back against what cost him his son.  "I think we need to stop looking the other way.  When you see something.  Do something about it.  Call in."

The police department will train six more people for the program this month.  But you can still apply.  To do so, call the Citizens Crime Commission at 585-5209.

Major Williams hopes to take the program citywide.  However, it is still in the start-up phase.  He is accepting applications though from people all over the city.

This is a beautiful thing you are doing. My neighborhood has gone to s##t the past few years. They're stripping the siding off of houses. They're setting abandoned houses on fire and we have one idiot who likes to let everyone know he has a gun. I am so afraid he's going to shoot a child. I would call the police but I've never see him with the gun. We our homeowners who can't afford to go anywhere else. Our neighbors our renters who don't care because they'll be moving in a few months. What irritates me the most is they want to destroy something simply because it's not theirs. That is the same thinking that leads to unnecessary deaths like your son. I will continue to pray for you and hope that you are healing more and more each day. I will also pray for your cause. Don't give up. Get the word out...whatever it takes. You are doing what you were destined to do. I'm just sorry you had to lose your son. But that's how God works. There's a reason for everything that happens.
Your buddie
Peace