Local News in Brief : Governor Pledges Help

Gov. George Deukmejian sent a letter to Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates Friday, offering to use his power to offer rewards of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people responsible for gang-related murders.

Under state law, such rewards can be offered in cases where local law enforcement officials believe a reward will assist in their investigation. The governor asked Los Angeles police to identify such cases, so that the rewards can be set up, according to his press officials.

Earlier this week, Deukmejian announced several other proposals to combat gang violence in the state. He called for legislative action to increase penalties for drive-by shootings and to improve the ability of law officers to seize vehicles used in such shootings; imposition of the death penalty in cases where a witness in a juvenile proceeding has been murdered, and a sentence of life without possibility of parole for youths 16 and older convicted of murder with special circumstances.