Family of slain officer demands her name be removed from crime bill

By Suzie Ziegler 

BALTIMORE — The family of slain Baltimore police officer Keona Holley is demanding that Holley’s name be removed from a crime bill meant to honor her, Fox News reported on Tuesday. Originally, the Keona Holley Public Safety Act included a provision that barred convicted cop killers from ever getting parole. That provision was later removed by the Maryland Senate. 

Lawanda Sykes, Holley’s sister, called the decision a "slap in the face."

"Taking everything away from that bill just sends an open invitation to criminals in Baltimore City to continue to do and act how they feel because our government is not going to supply us with anything to support our officers," Sykes said in an interview with Fox News. 

Sykes was joined in the interview by Maryland State Senator Bob Cassilly. 

"I discussed it with [Sykes] and her family, and we agreed that what the law officers needed was bills that would keep them alive and not to provide token handouts to the families of the fallen," Cassilly said.  

Holley was ambushed and fatally shot in December while sitting in her patrol car. She is survived by her four children, according to the report.