By John Zaremba
The Boston Herald
BOSTON — The family and fellow cops of a murdered Woburn police officer were snubbed yesterday when Gov. Deval Patrick stayed behind closed doors to sign a get-tough crime bill spurred in part by the veteran officer’s death in 2010.
Patrick signed the bill in a private, no-media ceremony yesterday. He then met with Les Gosule, who fought for ‘Melissa’s Law’ for more than a decade after his daughter’s 1999 murder at the hands of a career con.
Woburn Chief Robert Ferullo said his staff and the family of slain officer John Maguire were not invited, though they actively backed the bill. The governor’s staff did not say why they were not invited.
‘Even on five minutes’ notice, we would have been there. We would have been proud to stand there with Chuck Maguire, with Les Gosule, as we’ve done in the past year and a half since Jack died,’ Ferullo said. Maguire was killed in December 2010 by a parolee on a jewelry heist.
The law bars parole for three-time violent offenders, but it qualifies as many as 600 supposedly nonviolent drug dealers for early release. Patrick has asked the Parole Board to start hearing their cases immediately, citing cost savings.
Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley told the Herald his office will fight parole for any eligible offender with a history of violence.
‘Most if not all the prosecutors in Massachusetts are very concerned,’ he said. ‘Anyone who works in this field can clearly see the link between drugs and guns and gangs.’
Copyright 2012 Boston Herald Inc.