Hillsborough County law enforcement officials have launched a new program to get illegal guns off the street.

Now anyone who knows someone who illegally owns a gun can now call Crime Stoppers and report it anonymously. The caller will receive a reward of up to $1,000.

Officials say combating gun violence is a priority for Crime Stoppers and law enforcement agencies.

In 2015, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office investigated 687 crimes involving a firearm, including 18 homicides.

In the same time period, the Tampa Police Department investigated 820 crimes involving a firearm, including 24 homicides.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn says fighting gun violence is the right thing to do.

"Getting these guns off the street, whether we have to pay people to do it or because morally it's the right thing to do, whether it's because parents stand up and give us the information, or whether it's peers or neighbors who give us the information - it's absolutely the right thing to do," he said.

The gun reward program has officially started.