STATEMENT BY SENATOR GOLDEN ON PROTECTING NEW YORKERS AND OUR POLICE

Brooklyn – State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn), a former New York City Police Officer, today has issued the following statement following the murder of NYPD Officer Randolph Holder, the fourth killed in the line of duty in the last 11 months:

“There is no reason that this criminal with an extensive rap sheet was on the streets of our City posing a threat to all citizens and police officers.  The lengthy criminal history of this cop-killer includes assault, robbery, criminal trespassing and drug possession. I have longed maintained the belief that repeat offenders do not deserve an alternative to jail, but my Democratic colleagues who controlled the Senate in 2009, when this horrendous law was enacted, believed differently.

The measures that were adopted into law at that time weakened our criminal justice system, making it possible for career criminals to see the light of day. I joined with my Republican Conference colleagues in opposing these bills at that time, and it is evident that those efforts were wrong. These provisions which upended the ‘three strikes’ law have caused crime to increase and have endangered law enforcement officers.

We must restore the practice of stop, question and frisk so to allow our police the opportunity to better secure our neighborhoods. There is no doubt that the suspension of this policy has resulted in the uptick in crime and shootings in our City, which for many years has been the safest large City in America.

At a time when we should be looking to keep criminals in jail and off our streets, the New York City Council is looking to create a publicly funded taxpayer bail program. I urge the City Council to immediately suspend these efforts and instead, focus on legislation that will make New York safer, not more dangerous.

Public protection is about defending the people and the police, and that starts with strong policies and laws. The Governor, the Senate and the Assembly must come together immediately to propose and pass meaningful legislation to make our streets safer.”