Most Wanted: an old method that still works today

Most Wanted posters have been used for many years as a way of letting the public know the names of those wanted for committing criminal acts. These posters were often distributed by town marshals and sheriffs, and it was common for bounty hunters to make a living hunting down the wanted. Some of the famous fugitives who had wanted posters for their capture included John Dillinger, Billy the Kid, Bonnie and Clyde, Jesse James, and Al Capone. Although these posters were commonly used, it was not until 1950 that a program with a “list” of most wanted was formed.

In 1949, a reporter asked the FBI, “Who are the 10 toughest guys you are looking for?”. The reporter was able to obtain 10 names from the FBI along with their photos for his article. The article was published by the Washington Daily News and became an instant success. It was so successful in fact that the FBI decided to create its own program of the FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted.

The program was given the okay by J. Edgar Hoover on March 14, 1950, and the program has remained a success ever since. This was not the first time the publishing of names and photos for wanted people occurred. With the success of the FBI’s most wanted, other agencies also started their own most wanted lists in an effort to gain help from the public. The U.S. Marshal’s Service started the U.S. Marshal’s 15 Most Wanted Fugitives in 1983 and will travel anywhere in the world to capture someone on their list.

Today, many agencies have created most wanted lists in an effort to gain the help of the public in capturing people wanted for crimes in their communities. The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office started its most wanted program several years ago and is still seeing a benefit of that program from the assistance we get from people who see the name and picture in the paper, our website or other social media sites.

It was shortly after we started this program that we had a person call and report that a man who was wanted for multiple felony charges and parole violations was in a restaurant having a drink. When you think of a “wanted person” your first thought is that they hide out in a house somewhere and never come out to avoid capture. Although this does happen, it is often people who hide in plain view that can be hard to catch without the public’s help. Someone who can fit in with the crowd can be hard to notice unless their picture has been posted everywhere for people to see.

In this case, someone was reading the paper and, after looking at the most wanted, looked up to see someone in the picture sitting at the booth next to their table. They placed a quick phone call to the dispatch center and a short time later, a deputy was placing the wanted fugitive in the back of his patrol car.

Maintaining a most wanted list has been one of the most successful programs we have been able to operate with the combined effort of the Sheriff’s Office, the media, and the public. Our most wanted fugitives for Vernon County can be found in the Nevada Daily Mail, on our website at www.vernoncosheriff.org, and can also be accessed at any time with your smart phone using our mobile app that can be downloaded by going to our website. If you have not had a chance to check it out, take just a few minutes to look it over once a week and help us keep our community safe by making that call when you see someone!