Posted on Wed, May. 7, 2008
The $150,000 reward offered for leads in the weekend slaying of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski is comparable to money awaiting five people who led police last year to another accused police killer - John Lewis, who is charged in the death of Officer Chuck Cassidy.
Cassidy was shot at close range Oct. 31 after walking in on a robbery at a Dunkin' Donuts on North Broad Street.
Five people supplied information that led police to Lewis at a homeless shelter in Miami, said John Apeldorn, president of the Citizens Crime Commission. Three informants were in Florida, and two were local, he said.
The five could split $153,000 in reward money - but only if there is a conviction, Apeldorn said.
Members of the commission's board would determine how to divide the money, with input from Philadelphia detectives, he said. The amount for each person could vary, depending on the quality of information, he said.
No trial date has been set in the case, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.
Apeldorn did not discuss the identities or relationships of the informants. Callers to the commission's tip line are given a code number if they don't want to reveal their names, he said.
Lewis was arrested after he fled Philadelphia by bus. A staff member at the Miami shelter recognized him from television reports, and the staff summoned Miami police, who arrested Lewis without a fight.
In Philadelphia, authorities said, Lewis had confessed to relatives that he shot Cassidy.
Contact staff writer Jennifer Lin at 215-854-5659 or jlin@phillynews.com.