Post by Anja Nieser on Sept 10, 2006 8:21:41 GMT -5
Some officials want death penalty for cop killers
By Liz Hacken and Brian Liberatore
Press & Sun-Bulletin
If convicted of killing a trooper, should Ralph "Bucky" Phillips die?
Following Phillips' capture Friday, several Tier legislators, candidates and constituents have renewed the call for a state death penalty for cop killers. Others say life imprisonment is a stiff enough punishment.
Phillips prompted one of the largest manhunts in the state's history during his five-month flight from the law. Police suspect Phillips of killing a state trooper and wounding two others during that time. Phillips surrendered on Friday after heavily armed police surrounded him.
"I think that (the death penalty) should be a law in all instances," said John Minoia Jr. of Endicott, speaking at Port thingyinson Community Park. "Police officers are very important, but every life is valuable."
And while Minoia said Phillips should face capital punishment if he is found guilty, Minoia commended the police for allowing Phillips to surrender alive.
"I thought he was going to go down in a big shootout," added Annette Gibson of Apalachin, who stood next to Minoia.
Killing a police officer used to be punishable by death under legislation passed in 1995 by the state Legislature and then-newly elected Gov. George E. Pataki. That penalty was suspended in 2004 when New York's highest court ruled parts of it unconstitutional.
But state leaders wanted to set a strict penalty for killing a police officer. In December 2005, Pataki signed legislation to make the maximum penalty for that crime life without parole.
At the time, Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said they would continue to fight for the death penalty for those convicted of that crime.
Their fight was met with opposition from leaders of the Democrat-led Assembly.
Pataki tried to raise the issue again in March after officers in Chemung and Oneida counties were killed by robbery suspects in separate incidents. Legislation proposing the death penalty for cop killers was passed by the Senate but not by the Assembly, said state Sen. Thomas W. Libous, R-Binghamton.
"While it's great Bucky has been arrested and taken into custody, had the Assembly acted we'd have legislation on the books to be able to deal with him," Libous said. "Bucky is a despicable and heartless killer."
Mark Trabucco, Libous' Democratic challenger in the November election, agrees that Phillips needs to be prosecuted for the crimes he is accused of. But Trabucco doesn't believe the death penalty will deter future crimes against police officers, and he said research shows death penalty cases can be more expensive for taxpayers because of the costly appeals process.
"Putting him in prison without possibility of parole in my view would be a worse penalty," Trabucco said. "It's one of those issues that come down to a call of your heart."
But Tier Republican leaders say death is a fitting punishment for those convicted of killing police officers.
Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, R-Guilford, said he supports the legislation passed in the Senate at least coming up for discussion in the Assembly, but he said that is probably unlikely.
"There's no way he should be put in jail," Crouch said. "He's escaped before. We don't need the potential risk of having him escape."
Jay Dinga, Republican challenger for the Assembly seat currently held by Democrat Donna A. Lupardo, said he would bring up death penalty legislation for people convicted of killing officers.
"Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day," Dinga said. "Any individual who is so calloused and so without connection to society that would kill a police officer ... is among the worst of the worst and presents a continued threat to society."
Lupardo, D-Endwell, said the death penalty issue will likely come back on a state level because of Phillips' arrest, but she doesn't believe the decision should be based on this situation alone.
She is still opposed to that punishment because, like Trabucco, she doesn't feel it is a deterrent for criminals.
"Every time there's a sensational case, it makes people who are for the death penalty reopen the discussion," she said. "It's hard to set death penalty policy around sensational cases."
www.pressconnects.com
By Liz Hacken and Brian Liberatore
Press & Sun-Bulletin
If convicted of killing a trooper, should Ralph "Bucky" Phillips die?
Following Phillips' capture Friday, several Tier legislators, candidates and constituents have renewed the call for a state death penalty for cop killers. Others say life imprisonment is a stiff enough punishment.
Phillips prompted one of the largest manhunts in the state's history during his five-month flight from the law. Police suspect Phillips of killing a state trooper and wounding two others during that time. Phillips surrendered on Friday after heavily armed police surrounded him.
"I think that (the death penalty) should be a law in all instances," said John Minoia Jr. of Endicott, speaking at Port thingyinson Community Park. "Police officers are very important, but every life is valuable."
And while Minoia said Phillips should face capital punishment if he is found guilty, Minoia commended the police for allowing Phillips to surrender alive.
"I thought he was going to go down in a big shootout," added Annette Gibson of Apalachin, who stood next to Minoia.
Killing a police officer used to be punishable by death under legislation passed in 1995 by the state Legislature and then-newly elected Gov. George E. Pataki. That penalty was suspended in 2004 when New York's highest court ruled parts of it unconstitutional.
But state leaders wanted to set a strict penalty for killing a police officer. In December 2005, Pataki signed legislation to make the maximum penalty for that crime life without parole.
At the time, Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said they would continue to fight for the death penalty for those convicted of that crime.
Their fight was met with opposition from leaders of the Democrat-led Assembly.
Pataki tried to raise the issue again in March after officers in Chemung and Oneida counties were killed by robbery suspects in separate incidents. Legislation proposing the death penalty for cop killers was passed by the Senate but not by the Assembly, said state Sen. Thomas W. Libous, R-Binghamton.
"While it's great Bucky has been arrested and taken into custody, had the Assembly acted we'd have legislation on the books to be able to deal with him," Libous said. "Bucky is a despicable and heartless killer."
Mark Trabucco, Libous' Democratic challenger in the November election, agrees that Phillips needs to be prosecuted for the crimes he is accused of. But Trabucco doesn't believe the death penalty will deter future crimes against police officers, and he said research shows death penalty cases can be more expensive for taxpayers because of the costly appeals process.
"Putting him in prison without possibility of parole in my view would be a worse penalty," Trabucco said. "It's one of those issues that come down to a call of your heart."
But Tier Republican leaders say death is a fitting punishment for those convicted of killing police officers.
Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, R-Guilford, said he supports the legislation passed in the Senate at least coming up for discussion in the Assembly, but he said that is probably unlikely.
"There's no way he should be put in jail," Crouch said. "He's escaped before. We don't need the potential risk of having him escape."
Jay Dinga, Republican challenger for the Assembly seat currently held by Democrat Donna A. Lupardo, said he would bring up death penalty legislation for people convicted of killing officers.
"Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day," Dinga said. "Any individual who is so calloused and so without connection to society that would kill a police officer ... is among the worst of the worst and presents a continued threat to society."
Lupardo, D-Endwell, said the death penalty issue will likely come back on a state level because of Phillips' arrest, but she doesn't believe the decision should be based on this situation alone.
She is still opposed to that punishment because, like Trabucco, she doesn't feel it is a deterrent for criminals.
"Every time there's a sensational case, it makes people who are for the death penalty reopen the discussion," she said. "It's hard to set death penalty policy around sensational cases."
www.pressconnects.com