A day after the arrest of their civilian president, the Windsor-Essex branch of Crime Stoppers is working to restore trust with the community.
Past president Charlie Hotham has been reinstated as president. He says that work started Thursday.
"As past president, I convened an emergency board meeting at 3pm of the board of directors," he says. "It was a unanimous decision to terminate Mr. Fuller's association with Crime Stoppers altogether."
Hotham served eight years as civilian president before Jon-Paul Fuller got the job.
Fuller was arrested by the Ontario Provincial Police Thursday, along with a second man, after police carried out a search warrant at a property on Fox Run Rd. in Leamington. They found an illicit marijuana grow operation and continue their investigation.
Hotham says the incident doesn't compromise any police investigations.
"This gentleman has no access to any confidential or tip information that comes to our office," says Hotham. "All tips and confidential information is all handled by our two police officers. Our board is responsible for policy."
As for the organization's credibility, Hotham says that is first and foremost in the civilian board's mind as they carry forward.
"The integrity of the organization is still there," he says. "We want to continue to do the good works of Crime Stoppers for our community to make it a better and safer place to raise our families and live."
Should Fuller be found not guilty of the charges against him, Hotham says he won't automatically get his position back as president. He will have to re-apply for a position on the board, undergo a police background check and be accessed the same as any other applicant.