Suffolk Reporter

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) supported Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, and fellow members of the Assembly and Senate Minority Conferences at a press conference today in West Capitol Park. They continued to call for stronger oversight of the state parole board.

Since 2017, the parole board has released 41 individuals convicted of murdering police officers. Another convicted murderer, Mitchell Martin, who killed NYPD Officer James Whittington in 1982, is scheduled for a parole hearing later this month.

"The Legislative Majorities and the governor’s policies have gone too far in leniency towards convicted cop murderers. When law enforcement isn’t being supported in their role and convicted offenders are being released, clearly something is wrong. Cop murderers do not deserve our sympathy," said DeStefano.

"In our communities in Suffolk County, we see this firsthand—Janell Funderburke’s recent guilty plea to attempted aggravated murder and robbery in the first degree underscores the urgent need for stronger oversight of the state parole board. We cannot afford to let convicted violent offenders like Funderburke continue to jeopardize public safety. While this case ended with Funderburke behind bars, it serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat posed by individuals with a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of our communities."

"Instead of going deeper down this policy rabbit hole, we need to get our state back to a place where law and order prevail, and that starts with changing the New York State Board of Parole," DeStefano concluded.