Leon County Sheriff’s Office gets cash and crime victims get free phones under unique program that recently went nationwide

(PRWEB) May 8, 2005 -- The Leon County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office has awarded Greg Mooneyham of RMS Communications Group Inc. its Community Service Award for providing free emergency phones and cash to be used for local victims of crime.

Kathy Connolly, a victims’ advocate with the department, said RMS had donated scores of free cell phones and about $400 in cash over the past year to the Big Bend Victim Assistance Coalition, a Tallahassee-based organization that provides assistance of all kinds to people who have been victimized by crime. The Leon County Sheriff’s Office is a member of the coalition.

“I nominated RMS for the award because they offered us the opportunity to get the cell phones we need for crime victims, and we don’t have to keep track of the phones or keep turning them around – RMS simply sends us the phones that we need,” Connolly said. “When you have large numbers of victims coming in and out of the program, it’s hard to keep track of phones or know how many we need at a given time. RMS simply keeps giving us the phones that we need.”

There is another benefit, Connolly said. RMS actually pays the coalition for used cell phones that it collects from the community and sends in. Over the past year, she said, RMS has paid the coalition more than $400 for used cell phones that it has collected from members of the local community.

“We in law enforcement are pretty skeptical folks, so it took RMS a while to convince us that they would keep us in free cell phones, actually send us cash for the phones we collect from members of the community, and that there was no catch,” Connolly said. “It’s like going to the grocery store and being paid to take home your groceries.”

“This program is a win for everyone,” said Mooneyham, who is RMS’ 911 program manager. “Not only are agencies provided with revenue, but phones. Phones that cannot be reused are responsibly recycled, and kept out of the landfills.”

Based in Ocala, RMS Communications Group Inc. operates a number of web sites. It pays cash for used cell phones to people who visit www.CellForCash.com; it pays non-profit groups for cell phones they collect through www.WirelessFundraiser.com, and it offers cell phone recycling opportunities through www.RecycleForCalifornia.com, www.RecycleForUS.com, and other web sites.

About RMS Communications Group Inc.
Since 1985 RMS Communications Group, Inc. has been a leading wireless wholesaler with customers all over the world. It supports the wireless industry with innovative services designed to help service providers, wireless agents and corporate customers get the most out of their wireless devices. More information about RMS can be found at http://www.RMSComm.com. More information about the Emergency 911 program can be found at www.CellForCash.com.