27 Pro Death Penalty Quotes by Law Enforcement Officials



The death penalty should be reinstated for people who kill police following the murder of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky, the former Met Police chief has said. Lord Stevens said the "cold-blooded" murder of Pc Beshenivsky had "finally" changed his mind on the death penalty. [Sunday 20 November 2005]

"Such an extreme act of pure evil can only be met by the most extreme of responses - and that can only be death."

PC Beshenivsky was fatally shot outside a travel agents in Bradford. "All my life I've been against the death penalty," Lord Stevens said. "I genuinely never thought I'd say this, but I am now convinced that the monster who executed this young woman in cold blood should, in turn, be killed as punishment for his crime. For the first time in my life, despite 40 years at the sharp end of policing, I finally see no alternative."

If the death penalty was not imposed then "wrong really has finally totally triumphed over right and all civilized society, all we hold dear, is the loser.

He said, "There must be "massive safeguards" to make sure there were no miscarriages of justice in imposing the death penalty. But those who can incontrovertibly be proved to have murdered a police officer should be killed." 

Murdering someone who you knew to be a police officer was different from all other murders.

"You are not just killing an individual, you are attacking everything they represent," he added.

"I know now that capital punishment is the only major way left for the majority of right-thinking people to fight against the minority of monsters in our midst.”

John Stevens, Baron Stevens of Kirkwhelpington KStJ QPM DL FRSA (born 21 October 1942) was Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (head of the Metropolitan Police Service) from 2000 until 2005. From 1991 to 1996, he was Chief Constable of Northumbria Police before being appointed one of HM Inspectors of Constabulary in September 1996. He was then appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Met in 1998 until his promotion to Commissioner in 2000.

Gambia's police chief said the execution of nine death row prisoners in the tiny west African nation, would make people think twice about committing crimes, in an interview published on Wednesday 5 September 2012.

"The tougher the penalties, the more careful people will be when committing crimes," police chief Yankuba Sonko told The Standard newspaper.

"The law on the death penalty was passed by parliament and they foresee the reasons for passing it. We are now at the enforcing side of it and this will go a long way in reducing the crime rate in the country."

Yankuba Sonko is the Police Chief of The Gambia.
Railway Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Jillu Yadav, who fired at Ajmal Kasab and his associate Abu Ismail at the CST during the 26/11 attacks, today said he was "extremely happy" after the high court's confirmation of death penalty to the Pakistani terrorist and hopes that he would meet the same fate in the apex court as well.

"I knew that high court would confirm death penalty to Kasab as he killed hundreds of people and even policemen. I am extremely happy to hear this," said Yadav, who was honoured with the President Police Medal besides Rs 10 lakh monetary reward for his bravery. The former constable, who was promoted as an ASI in acknowledgment of his exemplary courage, is sure of Kasab's outcome in the Supreme Court.

"I am sure he would face the same fate in the Supreme Court also, if he appeals there. Now every Indian's wish is that the terrorist should be hanged at the earliest," he said.
However, Yadav still continues to regret having not killed the terrorist-duo at the CST railway station itself, which he says could have saved several lives.

"Earlier also I had said, and now also I am reiterating that I wish I could have had an opportunity to kill Kasab and his associate at CST itself. If I could have done that, then I could have saved lives of several people including then ATS chief Hemant Karkare. It was a terrifying scene at the station," 55-year-old Yadav of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) told PTI.


Jillu Yadav is the Railway Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Jillu Yadav, who fired at Ajmal Kasab and his associate Abu Ismail at the CST during the 26/11 attacks. He is one of the brave hearts, who along with his colleagues helped save lives of hundreds on 26/11-terror attack at the CST railway station bestowing their own life. was honoured with the President Police Medal besides Rs 10 lakh monetary reward for his bravery. The former constable, who was promoted as an ASI in acknowledgment of his exemplary courage, is sure of Kasab's outcome in the Supreme Court.

'The death penalty is appropriate' for drug trafficking syndicates, he told a luncheon with foreign journalists. 'Indonesia is facing a much bigger drug problem than ever before,' he added.

'I understand that this issue is very sensitive in Australia,' Pastika said. 'We were worried that if the syndicate was not taken down in Indonesia, where there is the death penalty, then the syndicate would continue to grow.'

Colonel General Police I Made Mangku Pastika is the governor of Bali for the 2008-2013 term. Pastika was a former Chief Balinese Police Region and former chief of Indonesia's National Narcotics Board.

Tuesday 2 August 2011 - "Bring it on. Give these murderers the option of the noose, the electric chair or lethal injection. I think the vast majority would back this campaign. People are disgusted and appalled by those who murder vulnerable people such as children, or those who work to try and protect the public, like the police."

Leicester city councillor Barbara Potter, who represents Humberstone and Hamilton, recently joined the Leicestershire Police Authority.

She said: "I'm a mother myself, so I want to keep them as safe as possible. I believe in an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and a life for a life.

"With all the DNA technology we can be 100% sure that someone is guilty and when we are 100% sure that this man has killed this child and the evidence is there, then capital punishment is appropriate."

Barbara Potter is the Councillor Member in Leicester City Council of the Leicestershire Police Authority on June 2011. He finishes his service on June 2012. Barbara sits on the Remuneration Committee, the Engagement Group, the People & Organisational Development Group and the Liaison Panel. Barbara represents the Authority on the Leicester City Community Safety Partnership.

Saturday 23 July 2011 - LAWMAKERS have been urged to revive death penalty for drug trafficking in the Philippines during the burning of some P167-million worth of dangerous drugs in Norzagaray, Bulacan.

Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Secretary Antonio A. Villar, Jr. told media that it has become necessary for the Philippine lawmaker to “re-impose the death penalty for those convicted of trafficking of prohibited drugs.”

The secretary lamented that foreign nationals arrested on drug offenses are “enjoying the liberal legal environment in the country while some Filipinos suffered death penalty in foreign countries after being convicted of illegal drug trafficking.”

“It is sad to think that when foreign nationals are arrested in the country allegedly on drug offenses they are just imprisoned and some are even able to go scot-free,” Villar said.

“Many Filipinos are now languishing in Malaysian and Indonesian jails for drug offenses who might also suffer the fate of the trio in China,” he said as he told lawmakers that “it is high time for us to review death penalty as deterrence to this heinous crime of illegal drug trade.”

Antonio A. Villar, Jr. is the Chairman Secretary of the Dangerous Drugs Board in Philippines. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) (Filipino: Kawanihan ng Pilipinas Laban sa Droga) is the lead anti-drugs law enforcement agency, responsible for preventing, investigating and combating any dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals within the Philippines. The agency is tasked with the enforcement of the penal and regulatory provisions of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. PDEA is the implementing arm of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB). The DDB is the policy-making and strategy-formulating body in the planning and formulation of policies and programs on drug prevention and control. PDEA and DDB are both under the supervision of the Office of the President.

 

"It involves exporting or importing drugs. If found guilty, death penalty."



Colonel Bambang Sugiarto is the head of the Bali police drug squad

MANILA, Philippines—The daring daylight robbery at Robinsons Galleria in Quezon City that left a security guard dead and five others wounded is reviving talk of restoring the death penalty.

Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome of the Philippine National Police said Friday 30 March 2012 he was in favor of restoring the capital punishment on account of criminals becoming more brutal, as demonstrated in Thursday’s robbery.

“I think it’s time that we revived the death penalty as criminal elements are becoming more and more aggressive. It seems they have no qualms anymore,” he said over dzBB radio.

“Criminal elements will hold up a victim then kill him. Sometimes, they would snatch a purse then kill the victim,” Bartolome said in another interview on  dzMM radio.

“What about those who get caught and charged with the crime? They only end up with… life imprisonment. What happens now to those they have killed?” he added.

Nicanor Bartolome is the 17th chief of the Philippine National Police. He was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III on September 7, 2011 to succeed Director General Raul Bacalzo, who retired on September 15, 2011 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. Bartolome will serve as the PNP Chief until March 16, 2013. Prior to his appointment, Bartolome held the rank of Deputy Director. He came up with the slogan “Pulis Ako, Pulis Nyo Po”, vowing the policemen to be very accessible and approachable to the community.

Former prisons commissioner Cipriani Baptiste, who witnessed the hangings of Dole Chadee and his gang of eight on June 4, 1999 at the State Prison in Port-of- Spain, described the experience as “terrible and frustrating” for him, yet he believes the death penalty should be enforced.


Former Prisons Commissioner Cipriani Baptiste agrees that the death penalty should be enforced. But, he argues that murders should be classified in order to differentiate crimes of passion from premeditated murders.

“You cannot prevent murder when a person, in a fit of passion, murders someone while trying to protect himself or his family”, Baptiste says. "But there are those people who sit and plot to go into people’s homes and murder them; these are the crimes that should be punishable by death, and this is why we need classification," he told a local newspaper.

Baptiste said the fact people were given death sentences and were then left for years sitting on death row had not helped to deter criminals because the walk to the hangman’s noose was too long.

However, he believed, if they knew shortly after being convicted of murder they would have to pay a visit to the hangman,  there would be results.


“It does not make sense having men on death row for years; this will not help as a deterrent to crime. Justice has to be swift, and then you will see an impact on the level of crime,” he said.


Baptiste, who turns 69 this year, said he was very saddened by the upsurge in crime and felt “society has failed in curbing the crime situation because itstarts from the homes and the schools, and not at the national security level”.

Cipriani Baptiste is the Former Prisons Commissioner of the State Prison in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Warden Bunharn sees the need for capital punishment, but only after all legal means of appeal have been exhausted: “Children can see that we execute criminals, and as a result they’ll be afraid of committing crimes. Here in Thailand, we don’t take execution lightly.  The cases have to go to the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, and then to the King before an execution is approved. We’re not a cruel country. At Bang Kwang we have only executed a total 300 prisoners, not thousands.” [Quoted in THE REAL BANGKOK HILTON BBC Documentary 22 July 2004]

Bunharn Cholsin is the Director of Prison Welfare in Bwang Kwang Central Prison. Bang Kwang Central Prison (Thai: บางขวาง) is a men's prison in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand, located at the Chao Phraya River about 7 miles north of Bangkok. The prison houses many foreign prisoners. It is a harsh prison which handles death row and long-sentence prisoners. All prisoners are required to wear leg irons for the first three months of their sentences. Death row inmates have their leg irons permanently welded on. In the book The Damage Done former prisoner Warren Fellows recounts that the prison was nicknamed "Big Tiger" by the Thais because it "prowled and ate". Paul Hayward served part of his sentence here. Prisoners receive one bowl of rice in vegetable soup each day. Other food must be purchased from the prison canteen. The prison works on a chit system. Each prisoner has an account with the canteen. Poor prisoners do chores for wealthier prisoners and prison guards to earn money for food. Some British and Lebanese prisoners receive extra money per month from charities. The British Embassy also provides food and vitamins for their prisoners. Prisoners are provided with cooking facilities and gas for the stoves is provided by the prison.

The hero cop who helped bring Donald Neilson’s reign of terror to an end claimed the man he described as “pure evil” should have met his death at the end of a rope.

 

The notorious serial killer, dubbed the Black Panther, died on Sunday at the age of 75 after 36 years behind bars.

 

The ruthless psychopath who shot dead three postmasters and murdered teenage heiress Lesley Whittle in a bungled kidnap was serving four life sentences.

 

He had been told by a judge that he would never be freed.

 

Stuart Mackenzie, 64, said: “Prison was too good for him. I’m a great believer in an eye for an eye and anyone who takes a life doesn’t deserve to walk God’s earth. When you look at the number of lives he took, why shouldn’t he lose his own? But that’s British justice for you.”

 

The retired officer added: “Neilson has had a life of luxury in jail while the families of his victims have had to work for a living. It really grieves me that their lives have been ruined while he was being looked after, fed and clothed. He never showed any remorse. I just hope his death has brought some closure for the families of the people he killed.”

Neilson collapsed with breathing problems at HMP Norwich on Saturday .He was transferred to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6.45pm on Sunday.

 

In recent years he had been suffering from motor neurone disease – a muscle-wasting illness that left him unable to use his arms and legs and he had to be spoon-fed by nurses.

 

But ex-cop Stuart, who served in the Nottinghamshire force for 25 years and was given a bravery award by the Queen Mother for bringing Neilson to justice, had no shred of sympathy for the killer.

 

He said: “What goes around comes around. I’m sure the news of his death will have made a lot of people’s Christmas.”

 

The former bobby said he was proud to have been involved in Neilson’s capture. He added: “If we hadn’t got him he would have killed again because he had no qualms about taking lives.”  

Stuart Mackenzie was the hero cop who arrested the Black Panther, Donald Neilson. Donald Neilson (1 August 1936 – 18 December 2011), born Donald Nappey and also known as the "Black Panther", was a British multiple murderer and armed robber. Following three murders committed during robberies of sub-post offices from 1971 to 1974, his last victim was Lesley Whittle, an heiress from Highley, Shropshire, England, in early 1975. He was arrested later that year and sentenced to  life imprisonment in 1976, remaining in prison until his death 35 years later.

QUESTION: I guess the family - in relation to some of the families and certainly in relation to Scott Rush there are even to the level of barrister, people who say the AFP has blood on its hands. And that means not necessarily in terms of the death penalty, but in terms of young people potentially spending the rest of their lives in jail. How do you respond to the accusation that the AFP has blood on its hands?

MIKE PHELAN: “Well, I think it's unfortunate that, you know, people say that the AFP has blood on its hands. I think, I can understand the emotion in these things, I particularly understand it from the, the families. I understand it from certain portions of the legal fraternity. I fully understand their position but narcotics trafficking is a dirty business. We are charged with, with protecting this country through the enforcement of the drug laws; we can only do that through international cooperation because Australia is not, in the main, not a production country. We are a, a country that is supplied, most of our drugs and the countries that the drugs come through have the death penalty. You know, we need to cooperate. If we talk about the, the young lives that have been destroyed by this, the people that have been arrested, there have also been a number of, a large number of young lives on the other side of the ledger that have been saved as a result of the AFP's operations over many years in interdicting, particularly heroin and other extremely harmful drugs, you know, in the thousands. Now, there are the parents and relatives of those thousands of people that we've helped. They're here today that but for our intervention wouldn't be. So, it's a dirty business, um it's a, it's a business that does bring misery to a lot of people and I think that's what, you know, some of the people, the couriers particularly may not necessarily understand the harm they do to not only the individuals that drugs may come in but also, you know, their families and what happens.”

Michael Phelan was the Chief Police Officer of the Australian Capital Territory Police. Phelan commenced his career with the Australian Federal Police in 1985. Subsequent to being promoted to the rank of commander in 2002, he became assistant commissioner in 2004. He was appointed to his current position in September 2007 at the age of 44. In March 2010, Phelan was succeeded as Chief Police Officer by Roman Quaedvlieg.

Tuesday 2 August 2011 - "I would have no compunction in using the death penalty on someone who kills multiple times, such as the recent massacre in Norway.

"It's a complicated issue but I'm in favour of capital punishment in some circumstances.

"I think it may be wrong to restrict the death penalty solely to the murderers of children and police, because that gives some lives more value than others. But multiple killers should be eligible for execution."

Sundip Meghani is the Councillor Member in Leicester City Council of the Leicestershire Police Authority on June 2011. He finishes his service on June 2012. Sundip sits on the Finance & Performance Group, the Delivering Justice/Vulnerable People Group and the Contest Strategy Group.

Director-General Nathee then decided to change the system to lethal injection: “It is because it’s more humane. Because when we used the firing squad, the old method, sometimes they are crying and shouting and sometimes when we shoot and they get down their blood is spreading, and sometimes they do not die immediately so we have to take them and shoot again. So, by new method it will be more humane; and it will not damage their body.” [Quoted in THE REAL BANGKOK HILTON BBC Documentary 22 July 2004]

Nathee Chitsawang is the Director – General of the Department of Corrections, Ministry of Justice of Thailand. He started his career in the Thai correctional service from 1977 and rose to the position of the Director – General in 2003. He was the Director – General of the Department of Probation in 2007 before serving his second stint at the Department of Corrections in 2008. Nathee received a Bachelor Degree in Law from Chulalongkorn University, and a Master of Science in Criminology from Florida State University. In 1982, he pursued post-graduate studies at American University on a Fulbright fellowship. In 1991, he received a Master Degree in Public Administration from Chulalongkorn University. He was awarded an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Social Work from Thammasat University in 2008.