La Mirada Municipal Code Ch. 9.128 Rewards for Information on Crimes

(a) California Government Code Section 53069.5 authorizes the city to offer a reward for information leading to the determination of the identity of, and the apprehension of, any person or persons whose willful misconduct results in injury or death to any person or who willfully damages or destroys any property, within the City of La Mirada. Such misconduct, whether consisting of one or more criminal acts, is individually and collectively referred to herein as "criminal incident."

(b) If the victim of the criminal incident is any student, or any person employed by or performing volunteer services for the city, or if the criminal incident involved willful damage to or destruction of any property of the city or property of any other local agency (as defined in California Government Code Section 54951), or state or federal agency located within the city, then the person(s) convicted of committing the crime(s) shall be liable for any reward paid pursuant to this section. If that person is an unemancipated minor, then the parent or guardian of the minor shall be jointly and severally liable for any reward paid pursuant to this section. (Ord. 662 § 1 (part), 2012).

Only one (1) reward may be paid per criminal incident. The amount of the award shall be determined by the city manager and shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000). In the event of multiple, qualified reward claimants for the same criminal incident, then the foregoing reward amount shall be proportionately divided in a manner deemed appropriate by the city manager. (Ord. 662 § 1 (part), 2012).

For a reward to be considered, the information must be received by the city or sheriff's department within 90 days of the first date of the reward offer, unless otherwise extended by the city council. (Ord. 662 § 1 (part), 2012).

(a) Any claim for a reward under this section shall be filed with the city clerk in writing and shall specifically identify the name, address and telephone number of the claimant. By submitting a claim, the claimant shall be deemed to acknowledge that the claim may be subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act.

(b) No claim for a reward shall be allowed by the city unless an authorized representative of the city:

(i) Investigates and verifies the validity of the information provided and that it reasonably led to the identification, arrest, and conviction; and

(ii) Recommends that the reward be paid. (Ord. 662 § 1 (part), 2012).

Any person who submits a claim for a reward pursuant to this chapter, and who knows, or with ordinary care should know, that any fact stated in the claim is false, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 662 § 1 (part), 2012).