YOUNGSTOWN Panel to decide who gets shares of Koliser reward

The bulk of the money will likely go to a Florida man, the chief says.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A decision on how to split the $40,000 reward offered for the capture of cop killer Martin L. Koliser Jr. should be made by midmonth.
Police Chief Robert E. Bush Jr. said Wednesday that the committee established to review leads that poured in after Patrolman Michael T. Hartzell was shot to death April 29, 2003, is wrapping up things "even as we speak." The chief expects to make an announcement by Feb. 13.
Bush said he, Capt. Robert Kane, chief of detectives, and Detective William Blanchard, fiscal officer, are the committee members. The reward money was donated by the city and private citizens, the chief said.
Bush said whatever the committee decides will be "bounced off" Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains.
Koliser, 30, of Boardman, is on death row.
His capture
His capture in Florida came roughly 30 hours after he shot Hartzell as the officer sat in his cruiser at the red light at West Federal Street and Vindicator Square.
Bush said it's likely that the largest portion of the reward will go to John Rizzotto, a car salesman in Clearwater, Fla. Rizzotto set up Koliser for capture and testified at trial.
Detective Sgt. Rick Alli, CrimeStoppers coordinator, said he is serving as point man on the reward. Alli said the committee will meet again Friday.
Alli said many people offered tips that identified Koliser and aided in the capture, but that Rizzotto will receive the lion's share of the money.
About six hours after shooting Hartzell, Koliser called Rizzotto and they arranged to meet at a restaurant in Florida. Koliser's friend's sister, who lives in Austintown, is engaged to Rizzotto.
Rizzotto rented a room for Koliser at the Knight's Inn in Palm Harbor, Fla. Unknown to Koliser, a 50-member SWAT team surrounded the motel.
Surrendered
Koliser surrendered after police called his room and told him to look outside, where an armored vehicle called the Peacemaker was parked.
Rizzotto, in a letter to Alli, said that he deserves the full reward. Rizzotto said the reward was not his reason for taking part in the case and, in fact, he wasn't aware of it until afterward.
"I put my life on the line to capture this man," Rizzotto said in his letter. "I did what I did so he wasn't able to cause heartache for anyone else."
Reached on his cell phone Wednesday in Florida, Rizzotto told the Vindicator that he was there for Koliser's arrest and the conviction. He said he has no idea who else may be in line for the reward and has been waiting for answers.
Lisa Ferguson, his fiancee, who is in Florida now, said she'd like to know who else was as involved as Rizzotto. "I'm the one who put John on the phone with police," she said.
Bush and Alli would not say who else is being considered for a portion of the reward.
meade@vindy.com