"When a state puts death row criminals to death quickly, it creates a chilling effect on violent criminals in our society," Sheriff Jack Parker said. "While working in the jail in the 1980s, I often heard inmates say the only thing that kept them from killing their victim was their fear of the (electric) chair. Unfortunately, waiting too many years for a death sentence to be carried out is bad for the victim's family, bad for justice and dilutes any deterrent value."
Local
Police Chief Wants Death Penalty For Those Killing Police Officers
Tuesday, November 22nd
2016
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (WRSP) — Jacksonville Police
Chief Tony Grootens says he has a solution to stop people from killing police
officers -- make it a federal crime, punishable by the death penalty.
After three police officers were ambushed and shot
while sitting in their patrol cars over the weekend, in different states,
Springfield Police Chief Kenny Winslow says officers everywhere are uneasy.
"It's concerning the fact that
people are ambushing officers," Winslow said. "They're targeting officers
for just the uniform that they wear and what they represent. And the reality is
that police officers are out there trying to do the right thing. They're good
people, they're hardworking people who go above and beyond every day."
One of the ambushed officers was killed, Grootens
says murdering police officers should be classified as domestic terrorism.
"I believe that if they would make
it a federal offense of murdering a law enforcement officer, that way they
would be eligible for the death penalty," Grootens said. "And
that's something that needs to happen."
Grootens says making it a federal matter would also
make court proceedings easier.
"The federal Department of Justice
has better resources than the local of course, and they go over the guy with
the death penalty hanging over his head, and if he does get the death sentence,
and he's put to death, then he's not going to reoffend anyway."
Grootens says he told his officers not to stay in
the same location for more than 10 to 15 minutes, to be on heightened alert,
and to park cars in the center of their surroundings so they can see whatever
is coming their way.
"We don't want our officers to be paranoid,
but we want them to be aware that these things are occurring, and to be aware
of their surroundings. Don't be so paranoid that you're constantly looking over
your shoulder, but be aware of your surroundings."
Chief Winslow says he has no opinion on whether or
not to enact the death penalty for those murdering police.
He did say the offense should carry the harshest
penalty the court can give, whatever that is.
INTERNET SOURCE: http://foxillinois.com/news/local/local-police-chief-wants-death-penalty-for-those-killing-police-officers
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