Massachusetts Lets Another Police Officer Die [OPINION]

Massachusetts has had another police officer murdered. The citizens and the politicians need to look in the mirror and take some blame for these deaths.

Weymouth police officer Michael Chesna was shot and killed Sunday morning. Officer Chesna, age 42, leaves behind a wife and two young children. He volunteered for the U.S. Army and survived combat tours in Iraq and Afganistan. He had to come back to his hometown of Weymouth to be killed by a career criminal out on bail.

The alleged murderer of Officer Chesna is Emanuel Lopes. The alleged killer was out on bail for a 2017 arrest for selling cocaine to a minor, and then resisting arrest when confronted by Weymouth police officers.

The alleged murderer of Yarmouth, Mass. police officer Sean Gannon was out on bail when he was charged with shooting the New Bedford native and his canine partner.

The man arrested for murdering a deputy sheriff in the state of Maine in April of 2018 was also out on bail from a Massachusetts judge.

Three American men who were serving and protecting their community are dead, and all three of the suspects were out on bail from Massachusetts judges. Add these suspects to the list of others who have killed civilians or committed robberies, rapes, and other mayhem while out on bail from the Massachusetts court system.

All of this death and chaos, and yet nothing is being done to correct the problem by the people in charge. The governor, the Speaker of the House and the Senate President haven't done anything about advancing a death penalty for cop killers, or investigating and impeaching a bad judge.

Massachusetts House Republicans have put forward measures to make changes, but they haven't gone anywhere. The Massachusetts GOP supports the death penalty for cop killers, but their numbers are too low to make a difference. State Representative Shaunna O'Connell of Taunton has been advocating a death penalty for cop killers, but the Democrat-controlled House has squashed the idea.

Gov. Charlie Baker has voiced support for the death penalty, but he hasn't done much with his popularity to advance it into law. He is the most popular governor in the nation, but he isn't interested in a fight with the Democrats in the legislature over the death penalty.

Similarly, there has been some talk about impeaching judges who are too lenient with sentencing and bail. Some of the Massachusetts Republican House members, like Jim Lyons and Geoff Diehl, have put forward solutions, but they have died a quiet death in the legislature. The legal community has also rallied around the bad judges and savaged anyone who dares criticise the saints in black robes.

Until we add a new layer of punishment for cop killers, there will be no change. Until we start removing weak minded judges, we will continue to have dangerous criminals roaming and rampaging on our streets.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.