The New York City Council - File #: Res 1547-2008

• File #: Res 1547-2008
• Version: *
• Name: Criminalize assaults on retired police officers that are in connection with their former service to the police department.
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Filed
• Committee: Committee on Public Safety
• On agenda: 7/23/2008
• Title: Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to enact legislation that would amend the New York State Penal Law to criminalize assaults on retired police officers that are in connection with their former service to the police department.
• Sponsors: Peter F. Vallone, Jr., James Vacca, Simcha Felder, Lewis A. Fidler, Vincent J. Gentile, Alan J. Gerson, John C. Liu, Michael C. Nelson, Kendall Stewart, James S. Oddo
• Council Member Sponsors: 10

Date	Ver.	Prime Sponsor	Action By	Action	Result
12/31/2009	*	Peter F. Vallone, Jr.	City Council	Filed (End of Session)
7/23/2008	*	Peter F. Vallone, Jr.	City Council	Referred to Comm by Council
7/23/2008	*	Peter F. Vallone, Jr.	City Council	Introduced by Council

Res. No. 1547

Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to enact legislation that would amend the New York State Penal Law to criminalize assaults on retired police officers that are in connection with their former service to the police department.

Council Members Vallone Jr., Vacca, Felder, Fidler,  Gentile, Gerson,  Liu, Nelson, Stewart and Oddo

                     Whereas, Police officers in New York face continual threats to their personal safety while carrying out their mission and performing their duties to protect the public; and

                     Whereas, Retired police officers, although no longer daily engaged with criminals, may be confronted with the danger of felons seeking revenge for past arrests; and

                     Whereas, On June 26, 2007, retired New York Police Department (NYPD) Captain Charles Stravalle was savagely attacked on Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens by Joseph Manzi after the retired NYPD Captain was recognized as the police officer that arrested him in April 2002; and

Whereas, Joseph Manzi, whose criminal record includes 13 arrests for assaults, drugs and thefts, cornered the retired Captain Stravelle and beat him viciously in the head, legs, chest, and arms before leaving him in a semi-conscious state; and

Whereas, As the assailant continued beating retired Captain Stravelle, he said “Do you know who I am? I am the person you arrested when you were the Captain at the 112 Precinct. I’m gonna kill you!”; and

                     Whereas, Criminals must be made aware that assaulting a police officer, active or retired, carries a stringent punishment; and

                     Whereas, A.10828, currently pending in the New York State Assembly, and companion bill S.8338, currently pending in New York State Senate, seek to amend the New York State Penal Law by creating a new crime for assaulting  a retired police officer that previously was involved in the arrest of the assailant; and

                     Whereas, These bills would create a new subsection of Penal Law section 120.10, and establish that assaulting a retired police officer with the intent to cause serious physical injury and with the intent to seek retribution from a prior arrest constitutes assault in the first degree, a class B felony; and

                     Whereas, Retired police officers should not fear the prospect of retaliation, at any point in their lives, from the people they arrest; and

                     Whereas, Retired police officers should be given extended protection by New York State for their tireless contributions towards public safety; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the New York State Legislature to enact legislation that would amend the New York State Penal Law to criminalize assaults on retired police officers that are in connection with their former service to the police department.

WJH

LS# 5293

7/16/08