ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Two men convicted of murdering a New York City policeman in 1988 have been denied parole, with the board concluding either release would be incompatible with society's welfare.
David McClary, 46, and Todd Scott, 43, had their first parole interviews Wednesday. They can apply again in two years.
Two other men convicted of killing Officer Edward Byrne in Queens have upcoming parole interviews. All four were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
The 22-year-old Byrne was shot as he sat in a marked police car, guarding a house that had been firebombed after the resident repeatedly complained about drug dealers.
Philip Copeland directed the hit on orders from a jailed drug dealer. Scott distracted Byrne while McClary shot him five times in the head at point-blank range. Scott Cobb drove the getaway car.
According to the board, Scott also shot a woman dead a month earlier. "During your interview today, you attempted to justify your actions by transferring responsibility to the victim for her failure to pay drug money that she owed you," board member Lisa Elovich wrote. The board noted that the group singled out Byrne based on the orders of drug leader Pappy Mason, to retaliate for his imprisonment and send a message.
"After he was killed, you laughed and bragged about the crime, which shows a serious lack of remorse and level of coldness," Elovich wrote. "During the interview, you minimized your role in the murder and exhibited little insight into this shocking crime."
In McClary's case, the board recounted his shooting Byrne multiple times in the head at close range. "Your actions clearly demonstrated a callous disregard for the sanctity of human life, in this cold-blooded, premeditated, unprovoked murder," board member Sally Thompson wrote. "During the interview you severely minimized your involvement and you took little responsibility for this shocking crime which affected not only the Byrne family but the entire nation."
The board noted significant community opposition to McClary's release and cited numerous disciplinary infractions in prison by both men.
Thompson, Elovich and Edward Sharkey made both decisions.
Thursday, May 23 2013 6:46 AM EDT2013-05-23 10:46:23 GMT
For the first time in 17 years, millions of cicadas are expected to emerge from the soil in the tristate region this summer. The bug-like creatures are harmless to humans.
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Thursday, May 23 2013 5:40 AM EDT2013-05-23 09:40:39 GMT
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Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:27 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:27:26 GMT
Black and Hispanic men are more likely to be stopped in the Bronx and Brooklyn than other boroughs, according to an analysis of police street stop data released Wednesday by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Black and Hispanic men are more likely to be stopped in the Bronx and Brooklyn than other boroughs, according to an analysis of police street stop data released Wednesday by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:23 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:23:21 GMT
Ex-congressman Anthony Weiner whose career imploded after raunchy tweets said in a YouTube video announcement that he's in the New York City mayoral race.
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:15:24 GMT
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers. Edwin Vargas was arrested Tuesday outside his home in Bronxville.
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers.
Sunday, May 19 2013 10:57 PM EDT2013-05-20 02:57:40 GMT
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
The federal judge presiding over civil rights challenges to the stop-and-frisk practices of the New York Police Department has no doubt where she stands with the government.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:47 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:47:54 GMT
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:06 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:06:34 GMT
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
A smuggling ring that made a fortune selling more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes in New York may have funneled some of the illicit proceeds to terrorist groups, authorities said.
Thursday, May 16 2013 1:17 PM EDT2013-05-16 17:17:42 GMT
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City.
Several New York lawmakers are sounding the alarm about security and safety lapses at day care centers across New York City. In a report released Thursday, dozens of daycares cited by the Dept. of Health for serious and critical health code violations since 2010, have not fixed the problems and continue to operate without penalty.
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Police Officer Edward Byrne
