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Pataki Renews Call for Death Penalty for Cop Killers

By Mark Scott

Buffalo, NY – Governor Pataki is renewing his call for legislation that would give the death penalty to people who kill police officers.

In the past four weeks, two law enforcement officers, including a state trooper, were shot and killed in the line of duty in New York. Speaking Monday at graduation ceremonies for 93 new state troopers, Pataki said, "Those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice deserve the ultimate protection." He has advanced legislation that calls for the death sentence for those convicted of killing a police officer.

New York's death penalty law, enacted in 1995, was effectively overturned in subsequent rulings by state courts. Pataki has, thus far, been unable to get the state Assembly's Democratic majority to agree to new death penalty legislation.

Among those graduating Monday was Sean Kelly, whose trooper father was killed in an accident six years ago. The younger Kelly was assigned his father's old shield number.