Support for defunding police could muddy election races

Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick

Judy Griffin

In these days of bail reform and calls to defund the police, will the endorsement from a heroic police detective's widow and former Malverne mayor make any difference to voters in November?


On Tuesday, Patricia Ann McDonald, who served 12 years as Malverne's mayor, is expected to endorse her former deputy village mayor  Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick as the Republican and Conservative candidate for state assembly against Democratic incumbent Judy Griffin of Rockville Centre, according to a news advisory.

McDonald is the widow of the late New York City detective Steven McDonald, who stunned the world by forgiving the teenager who shot him while on patrol in Central Park in 1986. The shooting left McDonald a quadriplegic who required a respirator to breathe while living in a wheelchair for the next 31 years.

Patricia McDonald remained at her husband's side while she served as a village trustee and then mayor.  Recognizing her appeal, both Republicans and Democrats tried to woo her to run for different public jobs as their party's candidate, but Patti Ann never accepted their offers.

Steven McDonald remained an active member of the police force, traveling the world, according to Newsday, to express his belief in peace and forgiveness, until his death in 2017. A bronze plaque in Central Park was dedicated to McDonald in 2018, with the inscription:  “Born out of tragedy July 12, 1986 came a life of service and forgiveness. Steven became a messenger of hope and good will to the community and City that he loved.”

But does the community still love the police?

In the last month, thousands of people have marched across the country protesting the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Many are demanding that cities and states "defund the police" or abolish police departments -- only weeks after hundreds of people stood outside clanging pots together every evening to show their support for coronavirus first responders, which, ironically, include the police.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus in March interrupted anger over new bail reform  laws adopted by the Democratic majority in Albany last year. The changes eliminated bail for most crimes in New York, which allowed hundreds of alleged wrongdoers to be released after arrest, often to commit more crimes.

Polls showed in February that 65 percent of downstate suburban voters opposed bail reform.

On Tuesday, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, will kick off her campaign by announcing her top priorities, "such as providing taxpayer relief and making Long Islanders safe again in the wake of ‘criminal reforms’ passed by extreme Democrats in Albany, " the news advisory says. "The former Village official will also discuss her strong opposition to defunding police."

Griffin, who defeated former Republican Assemb. Brian Curran two years ago, voted with the Democratic majority in favor of the new bail reform measures as part of Gov.Andrew Cuomo's budget last year.

After the reforms took effect in January, Griffin advocated for allowing judges more discretion in imposing bail. She also filed a bill to provide more time for prosecutors to provide their evidence to suspects. The reforms had set a 15-day deadline after arraignment.

Cuomo, in his budget approved this April,  added more crimes for which bail could be imposed, and extended the discovery deadline from 15 to 20 days for suspects in custody for felonies and misdemeanors.