Aurora, Illinois mayor: $500 reward to police officers for homicide-free year

AURORA, Ill. - The mayor of Illinois' second-largest city wants to give police officers $500 bonuses as a reward for the city going all of last year without a homicide.

The (Arlington Heights) Daily herald reports that Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner has proposed the bonus for all 289 sworn officers in the police department.

The western Chicago suburb of some 200,000 people was homicide-free last year for the first time since 1946.

Weisner says the officers who patrolled the streets played the most critical role in preventing homicides in 2012 and the feat "is a symbol of their overall success."

He says the city should make any sacrifices necessary to pay the bonuses despite a difficult economy.

The bonuses would cost $144,500. The city council's finance committee will consider the matter Tuesday.