Photo Credit – Assembly Minority Conference
Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) was joined in his demand by Assembly Republican Leader Will Barclay (R-Pulaski), Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda), and members of the Assembly and Senate Republican Conferences for a press conference on June 4 in West Capitol Park to call for stronger oversight of the state parole board.
Mitchell Martin, who killed NYPD Officer James Whittington in 1982, is due for a parole hearing later this month. Since 2017, the parole board has freed 41 cop killers.
“If our law enforcement isn’t safe, no one is safe. Releasing murderers is a reckless response to our crime problem in New York State—we should all agree on this. We’ve become numb to these tragedies,” said Ra. “Putting criminals above law enforcement has become the status quo in New York State, and it’s time to end this backward process. This state has turned into a lawless zone where safety is a luxury. If we fail to protect our law enforcement officers, they can’t protect us. We need to reverse this dangerous trend and restore law and order, starting with reforming the New York State Board of Parole.”
