Tipsters who help the Metropolitan Police Department solve murders cases are now eligible to receive a $25,000 reward.

Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey announced July 25 that his department will more than double the previous $10,000 reward to provide greater incentive for citizens with knowledge about a homicide to come forward.

The rewards are paid to a person or divided among persons who provide vital information that is instrumental in leading to arrest and conviction of persons responsible for a homicide.

The police department’s low closure rate for murder cases, coupled with this year’s in-creased rate of homicides, has recently been among major criticisms of Ramsey’s tenure as chief.

In making the announcement, Ramsey noted that the reward has increased from $30,000 to $75,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for the triple murder at Colonel Brooks Tavern in Brookland on April 6. The reward applies to each individual murdered, rather than each case.

Officials said funding for the homicide rewards comes from the confiscation of money or items such as cars or houses that were obtained through illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, money laundering and gun trafficking.

Police urge persons with information about homicides committed in the District to call the department’s Violent Crimes Branch at (202) 727-9099.

Copyright 2003, The Common Denominator