On May 4, 1981, while off duty in a tavern on Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, Lieutenant Jan Brinkers was murdered during a robbery committed by three Cuban refugees who had arrived during the Mariel Boatlift. I remember Lieutenant Brinker's death and funeral vividly because we had just been sworn into our academy class the month before, and we all attended his funeral—our first line-of-duty funeral. What stands out most in my memory are the statements made by the shooter upon his apprehension. Smirking, he laughed and said to the detectives assigned to the case, “What are you going to do, put us in prison? Your prisons are like country clubs compared to what Castro does to us in Cuba.” All three were convicted and sentenced to life. In 1981, we expected justice to prevail, and to a degree, it did. The political landscape was not yet entangled in issues like bail reform and defunding the police. Our officers and the communities we served were equally angry and saddened over the death of a police officer. When justice was served with the conviction and life sentence of all three perpetrators, there was a sense of relief that resonated in those very same communities. Politicians from both sides of the aisle were united with the common goal of fighting crime and keeping these dangerous individuals in jail and off the streets, away from our families, our communities, and our children. Period, end of discussion.
But that was 43 years ago, and this is now. Thanks to Governors Cuomo and Hochul, and their parole board, two of Lt. Brinker's murderers were paroled (the other individual passed away in prison). Since 2018, under the same administration, a total of 41 convicted police killers have been paroled. With our borders no longer secure, the term “refugee” still applies, but now it carries deadly implications. With cashless bail out of control, these predators are on our streets, committing violent crimes repeatedly without fear of consequence, reminiscent of the three perpetrators from 43 years ago. They still laugh and smirk at us, but now it is compounded by the fact that we fund them to do so. They are allowed to assault police officers, terrorize communities, unlawfully occupy any residence they choose, and navigate the legal system with ease, aided by ineffective district attorneys and judges, all while we are left to endure. Enough is enough.It’s time to send a message to the White House, Congress, and Albany: End bail reform—it does not work, and it's literally killing us. Stop illegal migration and cease the hemorrhaging of our tax dollars that supports them, while our children's safety and education, along with our veterans who sleep on the streets without health benefits, are neglected. This is not fear-mongering; this is the American nightmare created by the left. Let this realization sink in. Channel your anger and frustration into action at the polls and vote for common sense. Our elections should not merely have consequences; they must yield results.
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