(Chuck Muth) – The New York Post reported on Saturday that even drug dealers and murderers are critical of criminal justice reforms that have transformed the Big Apple into Dodge City…
“This could be avoided if you just get the drugs off the street,” Lawrence Downey, a career criminal accused of fatally knifing a WWE star’s brother, told cops as he was collared for the brazen killing in front of a Midtown pizzeria last month.
Downey, 59, whose rap sheet stretches back to 1995, even pointed out to the arresting officers from the Midtown South Precinct, “It’s so bad right now (it’s) on your own block.”
The killing of 39-year-old Ronald Massaro was the second murder in the precinct this year, up from one in 2019. Burglaries increased 108% with 328 through Dec. 6 compared to 155 last year, and robberies rose 21% with 157 this year from 130 last year. There were three shootings up from none in 2019. …
Downey, whose priors including a strangulation charge last year along with previous narcotics and assault arrests, clammed up once he got to the stationhouse, sources said.
Bail reform, with its revolving-door justice, and defund the police efforts have tied the hands of cops.
“There’s no deterrence, even if you get arrested, you’re not going to jail. … And why are politicians scratching their heads? Because they can’t point the finger at themselves for all these bad decisions, and this is the most popular vote-getting tool right now — the anti-police vote,” said Joseph Giacalone, a former NYPD detective sergeant who is a now a John Jay adjunct professor.
Prison should be for people we’re afraid of, not people we’re mad at.
People like Lawrence Downey.
But in New York, such criminals are continually issued get-out-of-jail-free cards. Catch…and release. With deadly results.
And some want to bring this madness to Nevada? Thanks, but no thanks.
Catch & Release Chronicle
* Most NYC perps arrested on gun charges soon walk free — even when they re-offend. “As of last week, the NYPD had arrested 3,765 individuals on gun charges in 2020; just 450 are in city or state custody — that is, in jail or prison. That means 88 percent of those at least caught with an illegal gun are now back on the streets.” Click here
* ‘Devil worshipper’ accused of murdering man while out on bail on another homicide. “I told the DA he should not get out,” Roberts’s mother Christina said. “He killed my son, he’ll be killing again.” Click here
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
“Newly elected Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón…announced he is immediately ending the cash bail system, adding that experts believe hundreds of incarcerated individuals would be eligible for released tomorrow under a new pretrial release policy. He said his office will also roll out a plan to eliminate all bail in the nation’s most populous county beginning January 1, 2021.” – KVVU-TV / FOX5 Vegas, 12/8/20
Mr. Muth is president Citizen Outreach a non-profit grassroots advocacy organization. You can get free updates and breaking news on this issue by going to: stopcatchandrelease.com
