persons guilty of felony or misdemeanor.

The commissioner is authorized to offer and pay rewards of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars for information which leads to the detection, arrest and conviction of a person guilty of felony or misdemeanor pursuant to the provisions of this title; provided, however, that no police officer, as that term is defined under subdivision thirty-four of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law, peace officer, as that term is defined in section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law, or any other authorized law enforcement officer or official shall be entitled, directly or indirectly, to collect or receive any such reward or part thereof.