Sen. Johnson acts to reinstate death penalty for cop killers

State Senator Owen H. Johnson (4th Senate District, Babylon), Chairman of the Finance Committee, voted to reinstate the death penalty for the intentional murder of a police officer. The bill, which Johnson is cosponsoring, was passed by the Senate this week in observance of National Police Week, May 13 to19.

"Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve the public," said Senator Johnson. "We need to make sure that our laws protect those who protect us. Under current law, the death penalty cannot even be considered when an officer is intentionally murdered. This needs to be changed."

Senator Johnson explained that, in 2004, the Court of Appeals overturned death penalty sentences, saying that judges were improperly required to instruct jurors in capital cases that if they deadlocked and failed to reach a verdict during the penalty phase of a trial, the judge would impose a sentence that would leave the defendant eligible for parole after 20 to 25 years.

This legislation addresses those concerns with respect to the murder of a police officer, peace officer, or correctional officer by mandating the sentence of life without parole if the jury is deadlocked and unable to agree on the death penalty sentence.

"Those criminals that murder Police Officers, who are sworn to protect and serve, need to know that they will be put to death for such horrific conduct," said Jeff Frayler, President of the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association. "The families of murdered Police Officers and society in general deserve nothing less."

"Whenever a law enforcement officer is murdered it is a reminder that we desperately need to have the death penalty law back on the books," said Senator Johnson. "I hope that this will be the year that the Assembly joins us in passing this legislation so that it can be sent to the Governor for action."

The bill was sent to the Assembly.

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