Outraged cops to take on lenient judges

Outraged cops to take on lenient judges

By Andrew Maykuth

Inquirer Staff Writers

Embattled Philadelphia police officers, preparing for tomorrow's funeral for the latest officer killed in the line of duty, today said they will mount a public campaign to identify judges and parole officials who they say go easy on violent criminals.

Fraternal Order of Police and Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey held a joint news conference to call for a moratorium on the release of violent offenders until the governor's office and the legislature conducts a review of the state Board of Probabion and Parole.

"We're angry and we're outraged," John J. McNesby, president of the FOP's Lodge 5, which organized the news conference, attended by about 200 uniformed officers and police supporters.

Ramsey said "there is no greater sign of lawlessness and disorder" than the deliberate killing of a police officer, such as the "execution" of Officer Patrick McDonald last week by a man who was released from prison in August after serving 10 years out of a maximum 12-year sentence.

Daniel Giddings, 27, convicted in a 1998 aggravated assault and robbery, stood over the wounded McDonald and shot him dead Tuesday after a routine traffic stop. Giddings was killed moments later by police.

Police said five people involved in the shootings of nine officers in the last year were under parole supervision.

Ramsey encouraged the public to attend tomorrow's funeral mass for McDonald and to line the streets of the funeral procession to show their support.