Several cities and organizations pledged reward money totaling more than $1 million for the arrest and conviction of Dorner when the former cop was on the run.
But because of the wording "arrest and conviction," some of the entities are considering backing out of the money that was promised.
"Because the conditions were not met, there will not be a payment of a reward by the city," Riverside spokeswoman Cindie Perry said.
Dorner was wanted for killing Cal State Fullerton assistant basketball coach Monica Quan and her fiancé Keith Lawrence. Police say Dorner was also behind the shooting deaths of Riverside Police Officer Michael Crain and San Bernardino Detective Jeremiah MacKay.
Dorner was never arrested. He died of a self-inflicted wound in a burning cabin in Angelus Oaks while surrounded by law enforcement on Feb 12.
"Thank you for making the phone calls, for your part in bringing Chris Dorner to an end. Unfortunately, it wasn't through the justice system, and that's what our precedence has created, and our process and resolution provided for," said Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey.
LAPD Police Chief Charlie Beck said Tuesday that he believes the city of Los Angeles will honor the reward.
"There's over 35 entities that were involved collectively in putting the reward together. Many of them have different rules, different abilities to pay and such, so we're working with those entities through robbery-homicide division, through the chief of detectives, in concert with the mayor's office, to make a determination about who is still eligible to pay the reward and who will get it," Beck said.
There have been two claims to the reward money: One is by Jim and Karen Reynolds, the couple near Big Bear whose car was stolen and were tied up by Dorner. They were able to untie themselves and call police. The second is by Rick Heltebrake, a man whose pickup truck was taken by Dorner. An attorney for Heltebrake says it was his information that led police to the Cabin where Dorner committed suicide.
The LAPD says to deny someone the reward because Dorner died before he could be put on trial would be disingenuous and would also undermine future attempts by police to gain information by offering a reward.
