Medford vigil brings calls for more cops

A memorial vigil Wednesday outside the Medford pharmacy where four people were shot to death called for peace and more police protection but also included a Suffolk legislator's charge that the county is not as safe as some politicians claim.

The Rev. Edward Kealey, the retiring pastor at St. Sylvester's Roman Catholic Church in Medford, opened the service before nearly 20 onlookers and more than a dozen officials with a prayer for the victims and a call for justice.

"We also try to remember when tragedy strikes we either become bitter or we become deep," Kealey said. "I think it is our challenge today to try to work for justice and become deep."

The service came Wednesday morning about an hour before Suffolk police arrested Medford resident David Laffer, 33, in connection with the killings.

While many at the vigil called for peace, Suffolk Legis. Jack Eddington said the killings are evidence that Suffolk Executive Steve Levy's assertion that the county is safe are false.

He said that Haven Drugs recently has been robbed three times, as have a nearby bank and church.

"And now we have a quadruple homicide," he said. "I'm asking for more police presence."

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Eddington, the head of the Legislature's public safety committee, said the Suffolk police force is down 300 officers and 80 detectives. "We have to get serious," he said. "Crime is here. We have to get rid of it."

Levy spokesman Dan Aug said, "It would be absolutely deplorable for Legislator Eddington to use this tragic event to play politics and to spread falsehoods."

Aug said that with civilianization and efficiencies introduced under Levy, there are some 100 more officers on the streets than before he took office in 2008.

Pastor Anthony Pelella of the Medford Assembly of God said the slayings are "so surreal because it happened so close to home."

He said his church was celebrating religious services at the same time the killings occurred.

"We're sitting in church, and this craziness was going on in our own backyard," Pelella said.

Matt Greco, another Assembly of God pastor, said children of the church have been traumatized by the killings.

"They're having a hard time sleeping at night," he said, "knowing this gentleman is in the area."

With Kery Murakami