Overview
- Tom Donohue filed the lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court on Tuesday, Aug. 11, saying MPD paid him $5,000 instead of a public $25,000 homicide reward and withheld a $10,000 robbery award.
- The complaint says Donohue provided home security video that helped identify and convict suspects in a 2020 fatal hit-and-run and the 2023 Fairlawn armed robbery spree.
- Court papers allege MPD approved a $10,000 payout in the robbery matter on Aug. 4, 2025, but never disbursed the money and later reduced the homicide payout without written justification.
- The suit also accuses MPD of violating D.C.’s Freedom of Information Act by failing to produce records about reward decisions and asks the court to require clear, published rules for Crime Solvers awards.
- MPD and the city are declining public comment while the case is pending and the Office of the Attorney General is expected to defend the District; the lawsuit could force policy changes to how tip rewards are evaluated and paid.