Senate & Assembly Members Call of Board of Parole to Deny Release of Judith Clark

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) joined Legislature colleagues and representatives of various law enforcement agencies in calling on the New York State Board of Parole to deny the release from prison of Judith Clark, the driver of a getaway car in a 1981 robbery of a Brink’s armored car in Rockland County, N.Y.  The robbery left security guard Peter Paige and Nyack, N.Y. Police Sgt. Edward O’Grady and Officer Waverly Brown dead.

Gallivan, a former NYS Trooper, Sheriff of Erie County and member of the NYS Board of Parole, was joined by fellow Senators and Assemblymembers who have a background in law enforcement, including Senator Martin Golden, a retired NYPD officer; Senator Fred Akshar, former Broome County Undersheriff; Assemblymember Peter Lawrence, a former U.S Marshall for the Western District of NY and NYS Police Inspector; Assemblymember Joseph Giglio,  former State Deputy Inspector General and member of the Sheriff’s offices in Erie and Cattaraugus counties; Assemblymember Al Graf, a retired member of the NYPD; and Assemblymember Mike Montesano, a former police officer and detective with NYPD.   

Judith Clark was convicted for her role in the brazen armed robbery of $1.6 million dollars from a Brinks armored car in Nanuet, New York on October 20, 1981.  The attack resulted in the shooting deaths of security guard Peter Paige, Nyack, N.Y. Police Sgt. Edward O’Grady and Nyack Police Officer Waverly Brown.  Ms. Clark not only participated in the planning of this crime, she also drove one of the getaway vehicles and attempted to reach for a handgun when apprehended by police.  Judith Clark was convicted and sentenced to the maximum allowed at the time; three consecutive 25 year to life terms.  However, Governor Cuomo recently commuted her sentence, making her eligible for parole in 2017.  

“The release of Judith Clark would be an affront to all law abiding citizens,” Gallivan said. “In committing her crimes, Judith Clark demonstrated a blatant disregard for the rule of law and an incompatibility with the welfare of society that is so far beyond the pale that any consideration for release would so deprecate the seriousness of the crime.  Her parole would also minimize the lives of law enforcement officers who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities.”

Senator Gallivan also urged concerned residents to sign an online petition urging the Board of Parole to deny Clark’s release.  The petition is available at www.noparoleforjudithclark.com

"As a former New York City Police Officer, I find it both appalling and disturbing that parole for Judith Clark, who was involved in the cold blooded murder of two police officers and a security guard, is even under consideration. As far as I am concerned, this is the last thing we should be talking about in this anti-police climate which has sparked attacks and the killing of officers throughout the Nation," said Senator Marty Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn).  "This is a tremendous slap in the face to all the men and women who wear the uniform and protect New Yorkers every day, and I join with my colleagues and the police unions in calling for Ms. Clark to be denied parole."

"I strongly urge the New York State Parole Board to deny the release of Judith Clark from prison," said Senator Fred Akshar (R-C-I, Colesville). "As a former law enforcement officer, it would be extremely disheartening to see her granted parole. She showed no remorse for the lives lost at her trial and was convicted of second-degree murder and robbery charges. Her release would be disrespectful to crime victims, to their families and to the dedicated and hardworking members of law enforcement.  It would send the wrong message to those who commit these heinous crimes.” 

"Commuting Judith Clark’s sentence is deeply disturbing.  Her terrorist crimes deserve no special treatment.  The victims of her acts received no mercy and neither should she.  I’ve sent a letter to the parole board urging them to reject Judith Clark’s application for parole.  Allowing this murderer back on our streets is a slap in the face of the victims’ families and law enforcement.  I’m urging all local residents to sign our petition," stated Nyack's Senator, David Carlucci.  

“Judith Clark was found guilty by a jury of her peers for her participation in a heinous crime that left two police officers and a bank security officer dead in 1981,” said Assemblymember Peter Lawrence. At a time when our police officers are under fire by those who seek to cause chaos and undermine our society, the governor would do well to send a message that he stands with law enforcement. Instead, by his action in commuting Ms. Clark’s sentence, the governor chooses to circumvent the judicial process and insult the memory of those brave men whose lives were taken. I am proud to join my Senate and Assembly colleagues in support of law enforcement and urge the governor to do the right thing and rescind his decision.”     

“I can’t help but think that commuting sentences only aids the convicted, while victims of crimes and their families permanently have to live with the consequences,” said Assemblymember Joseph Giglio (R-C-I, Gowanda). “Commuting sentences questions the decisions of our judges and juries, and sets a dangerous precedent for our justice system as a whole. In this time of uncertainty and animosity towards our police officers out on the streets, we need to trust our justice and correctional systems even more to ensure safety for all of our citizens.”

"For the state to release Judith Clark, a convicted domestic terrorist, would be sending the wrong message to would be terrorists that if they commit a terrorist attack in our state you will not be prosecuted to the fullest extent of our laws," said Assemblymember Al Graf (R-C-I, Holbrook).  

"At a time when our country is under the threat of domestic terrorist attacks, the release of Judith Clark sends a dangerous message that those who commit acts of terror against our people will not be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Assemblymember Mike Montesano (R-I-C, Glen Head).

Elected representative were joined by several law enforcement agencies, including the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, Rockland County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police Investigators Association, New York City Sergeants Benevolent Association, the NYPD PBA, the Police Conference of New York, the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, the New York State Sheriff’s Association and others.

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said, "Judith Clark is an unrepentant, cold-blooded cop killer who chose to participate in bank robbery, anarchy and murder that left three men dead. Her actions that day were not unlike those of other domestic terrorists, including Jared Lee Loughner, Dylann Roof and certain ISIS terrorists. There's no difference. Because of her complete disregard for human life and the heinous nature and brutality of this crime, justice demands this convicted murderer be denied parole. She must remain behind bars, where she cannot again harm another innocent human being."

Police Conference of New York President, Richard Wells said, “Granting parole to Judith Clark would send a message to every police officer in New York that the state considers their lives expendable.  There are certain crimes for which there is no redemption or rehabilitation. Justice demands that this woman spend the rest of her life in prison.”

Christopher Quick, President of NYSP Investigators Association said, “Judith Clark is a convicted murderer whose actions lead to three women being widowed and 9 children growing up without their father. On October 20, 1981, Officer Waverly Brown and Sgt. Edward O'Grady made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives to protect those whom they served. Judith Clark was tried, convicted and sentenced for her crimes. She must be held accountable and serve that sentence. The fact that she may now feel remorse or may have done positive things with her life is admirable but it does not make her crimes any less horrific nor should it earn her freedom. A freedom that her victims and their families will never enjoy.” 

Edward Mullins, President of the NY City Sergeants Benevolent Association said,” This is inexcusable, a complete travesty of the justice system.  This was a vicious, vile and heinous crime, and three good men with families were murdered doing their jobs.  To this day, those family members bear the weight of the death of their loved ones, while Judith Clark gets to resume her life.  I can’t imagine what Governor Cuomo was thinking when he made this decision, but it is a slap in the face of the law enforcement community.”

Patrick J. Lynch, President of the NYPD PBA said,  "Judith Clark’s involvement in the murder of Sgt. Edward O’Grady, Officer Waverly Brown and Peter Paige not only deprived three families of husbands, fathers and sons -- it was an attack on the rule of law and the safety of all New Yorkers. No amount of rehabilitation by Ms. Clark can undo that damage. Allowing her to walk free would only stoke the flames of anti-police violence, which has already made 2016 the deadliest year for U.S. law enforcement in a half-decade."

Sheriff Christopher Farber, Herkimer County, President New York State Sheriff’s Association said, “The New York State Sheriffs’ Association stands in unison with Senator Gallivan and other members of law enforcement in urging the Board of Parole to deny relief to Judith Alice Clark.  Ms. Clark participated in a particularly heinous and violent crime which resulted in the deaths of two police officers and a private security guard.  What solace the victims’ families may have found in the intervening years would be erased should Ms. Clark be set free.  The Sheriffs of New York hope that the Board of Parole will preserve what little-enough justice has been done in this case, and deny Ms. Clark’s petition.”

NYSACOP President Chief David Zack said, “We stand with other law enforcement and citizens of New York to demand no parole.  As law enforcement executives from across New York State, we oppose the parole of Judith Clark, who was convicted of Murder in the Second Degree and Robbery in the First Degree in the 1981 slaying of Nyack Police Sergeant Edward O'Grady, Officer Waverly “Chipper” Brown and Brinks Guard Peter Paige.  Sergeant O'Grady, Officer Brown and Guard Paige were shot execution style.  Clark not only participated in the planning of this atrocious crime, she participated and even tried to escape later from prison.  Given the appalling statistics of police officers being killed or assaulted in the line of duty, coupled with the fact that Judith Clark has already participated in the murder of law enforcement officers in the line of duty, we strongly feel that cop killers should serve the full amount of time they are sentenced too.  We call upon the Board of Parole to deny parole.  The People of the State of New York demand no less.

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