The head of Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans says the number of tips received in the shooting of NOPD officer John Passaro went up significantly after the reward was raised to $30,000.

"Definitely after the announcement Sunday evening, we started to get an increase in tips to the hotline," says Darlene Cusanza.

"We certainly feel that we've gotten some very good information over the weekend," Cusanza said.

The FBI added $20,000 to the reward for information leading to an arrest in the shooting of an NOPD officer February 23, raising the reward to $30,000.

41-year-old John Passaro was shot twice by a would-be armed robber at the Dollar General store on Poland Avenue at St. Claude. 

Passaro was the first officer to respond to a "trouble call" at the store.  He was shot when we went to the manager's office and announced that he was a police officer.  The gunman opened the door and fired three shots at the 3-year NOPD veteran.

The man fled on foot.

Last week, police released a computer sketch of a "person of interest" in the case who was last seen at a bus stop near the store.

As the announcement of the increased reward was made Sunday, Mayor Mitch Landrieu encouraged any person with information to call Crimestoppers at 822-1111.

'We need tips from the community to find the man who shot him," Landrieu said.