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Crime Solvers Reward Complaint

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Date: August 11, 2026
Contact: Office of Commissioner Tom Donohue (ANC 8A01)
Phone: (202) 560-1994 
Email: tom.donohue@anc.dc.gov

ANC Commissioner Tom Donohue Files Lawsuit Against District of Columbia & MPD Over Absence of Reward Guidelines, Unwritten Payout Rubrics, and Unpaid Crime Solvers Claims

Media availability to be held prior to court filing on August 11, 2026, at 1:00 PM outside the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, August 11, 2026, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Tom Donohue (ANC 8A01) is filing a civil lawsuit in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia against the District of Columbia Government and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The lawsuit exposes a total absence of formalized policies, written rubrics, or standard operating procedures (SOPs) governing how MPD calculates and distributes public reward funds, alongside claims of breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, and constructive FOIA denials.

KEY ALLEGATIONS & SYSTEMIC PROGRAM DEFICIENCIES
  1. Complete Lack of Formal Policy, Rubrics, or "Cheat Sheets": Public records requests (FOIA Ref. R008018-050126 & R008024-050126) and official departmental responses revealed that MPD possesses no written criteria, calculation rubrics, "cheat sheets," or SOPs to justify how reward amounts are determined. Payout decisions are made arbitrarily behind closed doors without transparent guidelines or administrative appeal mechanisms for claimants.
  2. Arbitrary Reduction in Homicide Reward: Despite public advertisements promising up to $25,000 for information leading to arrest and conviction in homicide cases (specifically involving victims David Fairwell and Brandon Gant) and explicit verbal assurances from department officials, MPD unilaterally slashed Commissioner Donohue's reward to $5,000. Department officials later claimed—without any written policy backing—that video surveillance evidence is inherently valued less than witness testimony.
  3. Unpaid $10,000 Robbery Reward: In a serial armed robbery case involving suspect David Crocker, Commissioner Donohue provided key surveillance footage that led directly to an indictment and conviction. Although MPD detectives formally submitted a financial request recommending a $10,000 payout, MPD failed to honor or disburse the approved funds.
  4. Lack of Oversight & Conflicting Official Statements: High-ranking MPD officials—including Lieutenants, Commanders, and Assistant Chiefs—have given conflicting statements regarding whether the program is funded locally or federally, whether video evidence is eligible for full rewards, and which entities exercise fiscal oversight over reward disbursements.
"The Crime Solvers program is advertised to the public as a trusted partnership to help take violent offenders off our streets," said Commissioner Tom Donohue. "Yet behind the curtain, MPD operates this program with zero written rubrics, no formal SOPs, and complete administrative obscurity. When public agencies make arbitrary decisions, ignore internal recommendations, and refuse to disclose their evaluation criteria, it breaks faith with residents who risk their personal safety to assist police. This lawsuit demands basic accountability, formal oversight, and the immediate payout of owed claims."

MEDIA AVAILABILITY & PRESS CONFERENCE Commissioner Donohue will hold a brief media availability to review the legal filings, present supporting documentation, and take questions immediately prior to filing the complaint with the clerk.
 
MEMORANDUM FOR ANC 8A MEETING RECORDS Updated 8/15/26

Crime Solvers Lawsuit in the News

WTOP: DC ANC files lawsuit alleging lack of transparency in police rewards that lead to convictions
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