By Brian Zanzonico
After the Crimes Against Police Act was approved, 133-2, Alfano told her that once it passed the Senate and Governor George Pataki signed it into law later in the day, it would be called "Dillon's Law." Her husband, Dillon, an NYPD cop, was shot and killed in November by a man accused of shooting an off-duty police officer weeks earlier. The new law intensifies penalties for those convicted of injuring or killing police officers and increases the penalties for illegal gun trafficking.
Alfano, who was promoted to Assistant Minority Leader last week, said the new measures are a step in the right direction, but that legislation on the federal level would be the most effective way to protect police officers nationwide. While such measures would likely find difficulty finding support from members of Congress from states that traditionally favor lighter gun laws, Alfano said it's not entirely out of the question.
"If police officers were killed in their states, I'm sure they'd consider rewriting the laws," he said.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) said that the Assembly will lean on Congress to enact similar legislation. "New York's gun laws will only go so far to curb gun violence so long as the patchwork of state laws across our nation continues to create loopholes that allow vast quantities of weapons to be purchased legally and transported elsewhere," Silver said in a statement on the assembly's Web site. "The Assembly will continue to urge the United States Congress to pass legislation to give law-enforcement officers the laws and resources needed to pursue gun traffickers and investigate the sources of all illegal guns."
The new law is simple: kill a cop in New York and expect to pay. Aggravated murder is life in prison without parole. An attempted murder conviction is a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 40 years. Attempted aggravated murder is a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 40 years. Aggravated manslaughter one carries a 10-year minimum and 30-year maximum. Aggravated manslaughter two has a minimum seven-year sentence and a 20-year maximum sentence.
According to Alfano's Chief of Staff Scott Cushing, the charges extend beyond violence against police officers. It also applies to correction officers and peace officers, including court officers.
The new law also states that sentences for illegal gun trafficking are punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
"They'd [illegal gun runners] bring guns to New York and only face an A felony," Alfano said. "It was a disgrace. Now bad people should think twice about the jail time they'll get if they're caught bringing guns into New York."
Cushing said that days after the special session, Leslyn Stewart walked into Alfano's Franklin Square headquarters to thank him. Christmas was rough, she told Cushing, and daughter, Alexis, keeps asking when her Daddy is coming home.
"Leslyn said she was gratified by what we're doing," Alfano said.
Comments about this story? Fseditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
