The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police is leading opposition to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s action earlier this month commuting the life prison sentence of Judith Clark. Clark was sentenced to 75-years-to-life in prison for three murders connected with a Brinks armored car robbery in 1981. The commutation means she is able to go before the parole board within a couple of months.
Clark was a leftist radical who sought to attack the banking system. She was the getaway driver in the attack on Long Island. The victims were a Brinks guard and two police officers.
Greece Police Chief Patrick Phelan is 3rd vice president of the chiefs’ association. Although Clark has been a model prisoner and founded an anti-aids program, Phelan says murder of a police officer shows blatant disregard for the system of law. He says the governor shouldn’t take it upon himself to undo the decision of the trial jury and the judge.