Officer Giglio's killer up for parole again

    Family members of Matthew Giglio and local law enforcement officials rallied last week to keep Giglio’s killer in jail for at least another two years. John MacKenzie, who was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, is up for parole.
    Giglio, a Nassau County police officer, responded with other officers to a burglary call at a business in West Hempstead on Oct. 7, 1975. He gave chase to MacKenzie, who was fleeing the store. MacKenzie fired a single shot which hit Giglio, of Valley Stream, in the chest. Giglio was rushed to Mercy hospital and died about two months later.
    MacKenzie has been up for parole every two years since 2000, but has been kept in jail. Giglio’s children, county law enforcement leaders and elected officials gathered to show their support for MacKenzie’s continued imprisonment. “This guy did an intentional act that day,” said James Carver, president of the Nassau County PBA. “We think he should stay in jail for as long as he lives.”
    Giglio left behind his wife, Phyllis, and three children, Doreen, 10, Regina, 8 and Matthew, 4. Now grown, the children lead a letter-writing campaign every two years to the parole board to keep their father’s killer in jail.
    Doreen said that 1975 was a significant year. It was when Microsoft was founded, Jimmy Hoffa went missing and the game show Wheel of Fortune began. “Another important event occurred,” she said, “and it affected the lives of the people who lived at 24 Edgeworth Street in Valley Stream.”

    At the time, Doreen said, her life was great. She went to a good school and had a lot of friends. But when her father was shot, it all came crashing down. As an adult, she said she has tried to understand the mind of MacKenzie and has come to the conclusion that he is just a “dysfunctional, psychotic person.”
    “I’m frightened that if this man is released,” she said, “he will seek revenge.”
    Son Matthew said that if MacKenzie is released, it wouldn’t just be an injustice for the Giglio family, but for all police officers. Matthew said he doesn’t believe that MacKenzie is remorseful.
    Regina, who is now a nurse, said that whenever she sees a patient suffering like her father did, she says a prayer for them. She noted that MacKenzie was armed with both mace and a gun, and he made the conscious decision to use the more dangerous weapon.
    This was the first time the family was joined by Mike Schiliro, who was 11 years old when Giglio was shot. Schiliro was in the hospital after suffering an asthma attack, and was in the bed next to the wounded police officer. He said although he was young, he understood what was happening.
    After years of thinking about the Giglio family, Schiliro said he finally decided to reach out to them. He wrote a letter to the parole board to support keeping MacKenzie in jail. “I can’t imagine a family going through that,” said Schiliro, who has kids about the same as Giglio’s when they lost their father.
    Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said that police officers are a rare breed of people who put their lives at risk every day. She said their heroism is often taken for granted by society. “There is a reason why cop killers are treated the way that they are,” she said. “They deserve to be in prison more than anyone else.”
    MacKenzie’s parole hearing is expected within the next week, but Carver said it is likely he will request a delay as he did two years ago.

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