Brad Fellhauer honored as Crimestoppers board member of the year

Brad Fellhauer’s work on the Morgan-Cass-Scott County Crimestoppers board was recognized in mid-May when he was named the organization’s Outstanding Board Member of the Year, a nod to the volunteer effort that helps keep anonymous tip lines active across the county.

The honor went beyond a plaque. Fellhauer was recognized for recruiting other board members and for the personal and financial donations he has made to keep Crimestoppers operating. He has also served as a past president of the group, a sign that his role has helped shape the organization rather than simply support it from the sidelines.

Fellhauer and his wife, Kim, own and operate Kim’s Place in Jacksonville, giving him a visible role in the community outside the boardroom. That local presence has made his Crimestoppers work especially tied to the relationships that sustain small-county public safety efforts. The recognition also came as Fellhauer was recovering from heart surgery, adding a more personal layer to the board’s decision to single him out.

For Morgan County, Crimestoppers remains part of the unseen infrastructure behind public safety. The organization depends on residents, business owners and volunteers who are willing to contribute time, money and credibility so tips can keep coming in without names attached. That system can help investigators move on theft cases and on more serious offenses, but it only works when local people continue to trust it enough to participate.

Fellhauer’s award highlighted that reality. In a county where a well-placed anonymous tip can matter as much as a patrol car, the organization’s strength rests on the kind of behind-the-scenes leadership he has provided. His recognition made clear that community safety here is not built only by law enforcement agencies, but also by people who recruit, donate and keep the tip line alive.