Posted on 05/04/2004 7:24:19 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Barbara Boxer on Tuesday called for the death penalty for the killer of a San Francisco police officer and asked the U.S. Attorney's office to prosecute the case.
"I hope you will come into this case as a prosecutor to assure the public that the full force of the law will be brought to bear and that the killer pays the ultimate price for his actions," Boxer wrote in a letter to Kevin Ryan, U.S. Attorney for the Northern California.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported last week, citing unnamed sources, that the U.S. Attorney's office was investigating the case, but Ryan's office declined to confirm that. Ryan spokesman Matthew Jacobs said Tuesday there would be no comment on the case.
District Attorney Kamala Harris has said she won't seek the death penalty in the murder of Officer Isaac Espinoza, the first on-duty San Francisco Police officer killed in 10 years. Harris took office three months ago after running on an anti-death penalty platform.
The alleged killer, David Hill, 21, is a reputed gang member who prosecutors say shot Espinoza on April 10 when the officer stopped him to see if he was carrying a gun.
A federal case could be built on Hill's gang involvement, sources told the Chronicle.
Boxer is fending off charges of being overly liberal and weak on crime as she seeks a third U.S. Senate term. Her opponent Bill Jones, California's former secretary of state and author of the state's three-strikes law, called on the U.S. Attorney over the weekend to get involved in the case.
"I've been for the death penalty in heinous crimes since 1985," Boxer, who is heavily favored in the race, said in an interview. "It's a question of my beliefs and those beliefs have been out there and I've voted my beliefs many times in those years and this has been my position for almost 20 years now."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein has also said Espinoza's killer should get the death penalty.
Yeah, and she's unopposed, too!
hmmmmm....potentially curious dynamics at play here.......we may need the help of a Bay area FReeper. What are the races of Harris and Hill?
BILL JONES ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE MURDER OF SAN FRANCISCO POLICE OFFICER ISAAC ESPINOZA
Costa Mesa, CA -- Bill Jones, Republican Nominee for U.S. Senate, has issued the following statement on the murder of San Francisco Police Officer Isaac Espinoza:
Isaac Espinoza, by all accounts, was a dedicated and popular officer in the San Francisco Police Department, with a loving wife and a beautiful three-year old daughter. He was murdered in the line of duty on April 10th, and his partner, Officer Barry Parker, was wounded.
Officer Espinoza was similar to the tens of thousands of other brave men and women who serve in our police and sheriffs stations, in our courts and in our corrections system. They dedicate their lives to protecting Californians.
Any brutal killer should face the strongest possible punishment under California law. In the case of a murdered a police officer, the law allows for the death penalty as just punishment. It is critical that our government send an unmistakable message that those who murder our public safety officers will pay the ultimate price, and that any potential killer knows that if they pull the trigger, justice will be swift and severe.
It is outrageous and unconscionable that District Attorney Kamala Harris would insert her own personal opposition to the death penalty into the case of the killing of this decorated and well-regarded officer. Her actions are disrespectful to the men and women in uniform protecting San Francisco every day, and make it clear once again that too many elected officials in San Francisco are interested in enforcing only those laws with which they agree philosophically.
I commend California's Senior Senator Dianne Feinstein, who spoke at Officer Espinoza's funeral and indicated that Californians reinstated capital punishment in 1977 precisely for situations such as the murder of a police officer.
I also support the San Francisco police officers who are marching today in support of their fallen comrade. They seek the death penalty in this case, and District Attorney Harris should put aside her own personal opinion and enforce the law.
Isaac Espinoza's family, friends and fellow officers deserve nothing less.
Last I heard Bill Jones was running agaist her.
1. What should Scott Peterson get since he killed his wife and unborn child?
2. How about Michael Jackson, pedarist?
Cop killer is an easy one, Babs, but we're glad you pinged up.
Maybe he or she meant it metaphorically......
You would never know it from the press (or lack thereof) in this state. You think the national press has it in for Republicans, try California. Sheesh!
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