Pataki and Bloomberg at Odds Over Penalty for Officer’s Killer

If Governor Pataki had his way, the man responsible for fatally shooting a police officer on Monday would be executed if convicted.
“In my view, when a police officer is killed in the line of duty by someone who murders them while committing a crime, the death penalty is an appropriate remedy, and I’m disappointed that it’s on hold because of a decision of our highest court,” Governor Pataki said.
But Mayor Bloomberg has a different view.
“I’d rather lock somebody up and throw away the key and put them in hard labor, the ultimate penalty that the law will allow, but I’m opposed to the death penalty,” he said.
Last year, the New York Court of Appeals, ruled that a key clause in the statute was unconstitutional. To make the law enforceable, the state Legislature would need to amend the law.