Letter: Tougher drug laws needed
Lamont Pride, the accused shooter in the murder of Det. Peter Figoski, appears in Brooklyn Supreme Court, December 20th 2011. Credit: Joe Marino
The men and women who put their lives on the line every day at the New York City Police Department are at a continuing disadvantage ["Alleged cop killer 'sorry,' " News, Jan. 5]. Even as the rules become more stringent for the police, the penalties for criminals become less and less. The latest trend among certain legislators and politicians has been to do away with "draconian" Rockefeller-era drug laws, which have been mostly repealed, and this has given way to a rise in lawlessness.
The attorney general of New York, Eric Schneiderman, stated in his election bid that he championed the repeal of such strict drug laws. Too much crime is drug-related. There is not an individual in law enforcement who would dispute that fact. However, legislators, many of whom have no law enforcement experience, feel it necessary to continue to lessen penalties for drug offenses.
Drug crime is pervasive. The five men arrested after Det. Peter J. Figoski's murder were allegedly there to rob a marijuana dealer. The alleged trigger man, Lamont Pride, was arrested in November on drug charges, and released without bail. At the time, he was wanted in North Carolina for aggravated assault.
I won't discuss the complete atrocity committed by the judge who let this violent career criminal out of jail. Our legislators and politicians are doing a disservice not only to the communities they represent, but to all men and women who serve in law enforcement.
Marty Ronan, Wantagh
