Reward for Rapist’s Capture Proposed

Councilman Glen Becerra is proposing that the city offer a reward for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person responsible for five sexual assaults and three rapes in the city.

Becerra proposed the reward at Monday’s meeting.

He said he formed the idea after he saw a news report about the crimes. A city that touts itself as the safest in the nation needs to do everything it can, he said.

“The worst-case scenario is we have to spend the money and put away a very bad person,” Becerra said.

Earlier this month the police reported that DNA evidence determined the same person is responsible for at least three of the attacks, which have taken place since June 1996.

“I know our police are doing everything they can,” Becerra said. “This is the only thing that I could think of to add one more tool.”

The Police Department will present a report about the potential effectiveness of a reward at the Aug. 23 council meeting, said Police Chief Randy Adams.

“We’re certainly going to study it and if it could be a possible tool, then we’d certainly like to use it,” he said.

It would be the first crime reward Simi Valley has offered, Adams said. The City Council frequently spends thousands of dollars to make the city look nice, but safety should be paramount, Becerra said.

“Every week we’re talking about landscaping and making our community beautiful,” he said. “But if it’s not safe it doesn’t matter.”