Family, Officials Urge No Parole for Cop Killer
Police officers, elected officials and family members are urging the state parole board to keep a convicted police killer behind bars.
John MacKenzie was convicted in the 1975 shooting death of Nassau County Police Officer Matthew Giglio. He will be making his sixth attempt at parole hearing next week.
The Nassau Police Benevolent Association, the union that represents rank-and-file officers, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice and the victim’s family rallied Friday in Mineola to draw attention to the cause.
Although MacKenzie served almost 34 years of his 25-to-life sentence and says he is rehabilitated, they say a cop killer should never leave prison and return to society.
“To grant freedom would have devastating effects on the police community, the Giglio family and all who are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect,” said PBA Treasurer Wayne Hartmann.
MacKenzie has been denied parole every two years since 2000. The Giglios say as long as they are alive they will speak on behalf of their slain father. MacKenzie is currently an inmate at Woodbourne Correctional Facility in Sullivan County.
Mackenzie shot officer Giglio in the chest at point blank range during responding as a back up to a burglary in West Hempstead. After six weeks of fighting to stay alive, Giglio succumbed to his injuries on Dec. 16, 1975.
Posted Thursday, June 3, 2010
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