CBS 11 News | January 27, 2011
By Jack Fink

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Dallas police Senior Corporal Theadora Ross — a 26-year department veteran — said nothing after being arrested Monday.

But now we know what she’s accused of.

Ross and another woman, Malva Delley, are accused of collecting $250,000 in rewards for bogus tips to the Crime Stoppers program for more than five years.

Russell Verney, executive director of the North Texas Crime Commission, which operates Crime Stoppers says, ”It’s shocking that it happened, that it happened for so long.”

Verney says it’s not lost on him that the commission, which helps solve crimes, became a crime victim.  ”A bit of irony. It’s unfortunate.”

Ross was responsible for taking anonymous tips, and selecting those eligible for a cash reward.

To pick up that reward, tipsters receive a secret code word and tip number, then go to the bank.

But Verney says one legitimate tipster called him and said something was wrong.  ”An individual went to pick-up his authorized tip at the bank,” Verney said, “and was told that somebody had preceded him, and had his secret number and his secret code word.”

Verney says they temporarily shut down the program and investigated.

Prosecutors say Ross gave Delley bogus tip and information numbers to collect the cash rewards.

From there, prosecutors say Delley got the money from the bank and split it with Ross.

When we stopped by Ross’ house in Rowlett today, no one came to the door.

Today Dallas police called this indictment “a major breach of public trust.”

Dallas police and the Crime Commission say they have already changed their procedures to keep this from happening again.

The Crime Commission says Crime Stoppers continues to receive numerous tips and pay cash rewards.

Both women have pleaded not guilty in court.