by smupony94 » Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:32 pm
Since I have quite a bit of time on my hands I think I will turn in some of you
Wanted: Snitches for hire
Eagle County's sheriff runs a newspaper ad for informants and has received several calls.
By Kirk Mitchell
The Denver Post
Posted: 03/28/2009 12:30:00 AM MDT
An Eagle County employer not only promises to overlook a prospective employee's crime connections, it prefers you have them.
"Wanted: people who hang out with crooks," the Vail Daily classified ad says. "Drug use and criminal record OK. Must be willing to work odd hours."
The classified ad, paid for by Eagle County Sheriff Joe Hoy, is apparently designed to appeal to the sophisticated confidential informant-newspaper subscriber in the posh ski resort town.
"Make some extra cash . . . ," the classified ad says. "Give us a call and we will work out the details  confidentiality is guaranteed."
More than a dozen people already have called in hopes of earning between $100 and $1,000 for turning in burglar pals not intimidated by elaborate security systems guarding Vail's multi million dollar homes.
Eagle County Sheriff's Lt. Mike McWilliam acknowledges that Sheriff Hoy stole the idea from some cops in Albuquerque who have had success enticing snitches to come forward with identical ads.
The "CIs" will have to earn their pay in Eagle County.
"Just saying 'Joe Blow' is a drug dealer is not enough," McWilliam said.