ALBANY---With four police officers shot in New York in the last two weeks, including three in the last 24 hours, Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and members of the Senate Majority Conference called on Governor Spitzer Wednesday to push the State Assembly to pass legislation that would enact the death penalty for people who kill police officers and a bill that would reinstate New York's death penalty law.

On Tuesday, 97 Assembly Democrats voted against an amendment to enact the death penalty for people who kill police officers.

Two more State Troopers were shot Wednesday, one killed, in the effort to apprehend 23 year old Travis Trimm, who reportedly shot Trooper Matthew Gombosi in Margaretville, Delaware County on Tuesday. Trooper Gombosi was wearing a bullet proof vest at the time of the shooting and was not seriously injured.

Last week, Utica police officer Thomas Lindsey was shot and killed during a traffic stop.

"On Monday, I met with the family of Utica police officer Thomas Lindsey and I made a commitment that the Senate will continue to do everything we can to reinstate the death penalty to protect law enforcement officers and bring the ultimate punishment on violent criminals who target them," Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said. "The Senate has passed death penalty legislation repeatedly, but the Assembly refuses to act.

"Governor Spitzer says he supports the death penalty. If that is true, he must come back to Albany immediately and do everything he can to get the Assembly to act before another officer is gunned down," Bruno said. "This is a critically important issue, literally a matter of life and death, and the Governor should be talking to the Assembly about joining the Senate in passing legislation to protect police officers and make our communities safe. If the Assembly won't act, the Governor should be going to the districts of 97 Assembly Democrats and ask them to explain why they voted against the death penalty for killing police officers."

Last year, the Senate passed a comprehensive bill that would put stronger penalties in place for criminals that target police officers. The bill includes stronger penalties for assault, murder and attempted murder of an officer, as well as increased penalties for possession of armor-piercing ammunition and the reinstatement of the death penalty for criminals who kill police officers. The Senate also passed legislation that would amend the state's death penalty law to fix a provision that was ruled invalid by the state Court of Appeals. Bruno says the Senate is prepared to pass these bills once again, in an effort to protect police and the public from violent criminals.

INCIDENTS OF POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY

--New York City Detective Dillon Stewart, killed attempting to pull over a car in East Flatbush, Nov. 28, 2005.

--New York City Detective Daniel Enchautegui, killed when he interrupted a burglary in progress, Dec. 10, 2005.

--Police Officer Joseph D. Corr, New Hartford Police Department, killed while trying to apprehend jewelry store thieves, Feb. 27, 2006.

--State Trooper Andrew J. Sperr, killed during a traffic stop of two bank robbers in Big Flats, Chemung County, March 1, 2006.

--State Trooper Craig J. Todeschini, killed near Syracuse in pursuit of a motorcycle driver who was fleeing him, April 23, 2006.

--State Trooper Joseph A. Longobardo, killed while searching for fugitive Bucky Phillips in Chautauqua County, Aug. 31, 2006.

--New York City Auxiliary Police Officers Eugene Marshalik and Nicholas Pekearo, killed trying to apprehend a criminal who murdered a pizza shop employee in Greenwich Village, March 14, 2007.

--Utica Police Officer Thomas Lindsey, killed during a traffic stop, April 12, 2007.   4-25-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette