October 28, 2014
Orange County Crime Stoppers
P.O. Box 54552
Irvine, CA 92619
Re: Resignation
To Whom It May Concern:
It is with a heavy heart that I’ve reached the decision to tender my resignation as CEO and Board Member of Orange County Crime Stoppers (OCCS). I will step down as a Board Member at the end of this term (December 31, 2014) and relinquish my day-to-day activities as CEO at the same time.
As founder of OCCS, it did not make my decision any easier. I applied for and was approved for Non-Profit status in 2010; we then launched in 2011. I’ve worked with some really amazing people and together we’ve accomplished great things within a 3-year time span.
The original concept was to start an OC chapter of Crime Stoppers (thanks to Luisa Ashley of Los Angeles Crime Stoppers for motivating me to do so) and then turn it over once it was up and running. My true passion and purpose all along has been to provide hopeful healing to survivors of crime via my other baby, Crime Survivors, Inc.
Have we made a difference? I’d like to think so. I think we have been successful in assisting OC law enforcement agencies in both stopping – and solving – crime. Here are some of the stats:
Tips Received: 3,645
Arrests Made: 432
ChargesFiled:1,159
Weapons Recovered: 33
Property Recovered: $196,743
Drugs Seized: $976,545
Total Recovery: $1,173,288
Monies Raised: $150,000 +
If there is one thing I would want everyone to know it is this: I gave it my all. My basic work philosophy is: Done is Better than Perfect… and while I’m certainly not perfect, I do believe in getting the job done. It’s been an honor and privilege to lead OCCS to the point where we are now. I was fortunate that I could bring some of my knowledge and skill sets to bear especially in the areas of raising money & getting sponsors on board, large scale event planning, giving presentations, public speaking, garnering community support and navigating the complex 501(c)(3) application process.
My time is valuable and OCCS has diverted a lot of my time from other projects. I can no longer justify my current level of involvement; much less at $5.87 per hour. It’s time to turn the leadership of OCCS over to others.
I will turn over the reins of OCCS to the current Chair, Don Barnes. I have every confidence in his leadership abilities and trust he will lead the organization on a path of continued growth and success.
There are a few names I’d like to mention as being an integral part and reason for our e arly success: OCCS Coordinator, Aaron Berenschot and Officer Nguyet Do for all their help & support, Paul Walters, Lee Baca, Chief Charlie Beck and Anthony Bertagna for helping us launch, Lt. Slayton, Ryan Burris, Lt. Jensen, Kevin Mc Donald and Beverly Johnson for their support and wisdom, also Sheriff Sandra Hutchens for her trust in me and for all Chiefs of Police in Orange County and the many others in our communities for their moral support!
And of course, I am grateful to all of our supporters, volunteers and sponsors. A special note of gratitude to all members of the law enforcement community for the daily sacrifices they make on our behalf, and to the media for their responsible reporting.
I want everyone to know that they still find me as the CEO of Crime Survivors, Inc., and I always believe in an open door policy. So please don’t any of you be strangers, let’s stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Patricia Wenskunas
Founder CEO, Orange County Crime Stoppers
www.occrimestoppers.org
Founder CEO, Crime Survivors, Inc.
www.crimesurvivors.org
With Faith, there is Hope…
