Warren County Crime Stoppers has approved its first rewards since before the pandemic.

Two rewards — one that led to the arrest of a double-murder suspect out of Erie County — were approved during a Friday morning meeting.

That reward was for $500 to an individual who called law enforcement with information about the location of Cody Potthoff, who had been charged with two murders in Erie County but was arrested at an undisclosed location in Warren County in June 2020.

Potthoff pleaded guilty to murder charges at two dockets, online court records show, and was sentenced to life without parole.

Sheriff Brian Zeybel said during Friday’s meeting that the caller prevented a shootout.

“(They) didn’t have to do that,” Zeybel said of the caller revealing Potthoff’s location. “That is like Crime Stoppers 101.”

The other reward approved was for $100 information that led to the identification of a theft suspect. That information, however, led law enforcement to solve three other theft incidents.

District Attorney Rob Greene said that the rewards are paid in cash and Sheriff Brian Zeybel said the funds can usually be picked up anonymously by informants at the DA’s office but that arrangements can be made for people who are uncomfortable coming to the courthouse.

Crime Stoppers went largely dormant during the pandemic but the rewards are one of several steps in the works to rejuvenate the organization.

Another step taken Friday was the formation of a committee to coordinate one of the group’s largest fundraisers — a steer dump at the Warren County Fair, typically held Thursday evening of Fair week.

“The steer dump is the top fundraiser,” Greene said.

Zeybel said that Crime Stoppers also has donated booth space at the fair and that the “steer dump” is a big draw.