Former NYC and Detroit Police Commissioner Patrick Murphy on Maryland death penalty

Former NYC and Detroit Police Commissioner Patrick Murphy on Maryland death penalty: Patrick Murphy has this op-ed in the Baltimore Examiner, entitled "Defending Leonard Hamm, opposing the death penalty," in support of statements by Baltimore City Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm urging repeal of the Maryland death penalty.

Excerpt:
...Leonard Hamm’s critics are wrong.

The state can protect many more officers at a fraction of the cost by adding police, providing the best protective equipment available and implementing effective policing programs known to reduce crime. The death penalty is simply a distraction from the real issues surrounding public safety.

Leonard Hamm is not alone. Many, many police on the streets and in leadership positions know that in the day-to-day, the death penalty is not the most effective way to protect them.

Maryland’s death penalty repeal bill may have deadlocked in committee this year. But there is growing awareness in our state that the system is broken. It’s only a matter of time before it is finally scrapped. When it happens, it won’t be a day too soon.