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PROTEST LETTER TO RUTGER’S UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
Richard L. McCormack, President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
65 Davidson Road
Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-8097
president@rutgers.edu
Dear
Mr. McCormack,
I am surprised at your University's open arms policy towards the killer of two Lodi, New Jersey Police Officers, Peter Voto and Gary Tedesco
. To think that anyone would want to hear convicted cop killer Thomas Trantino
speak about "How to Survive Probation and Parole," is a slap in the face for every law enforcement officer in this country. This animal killed two Police Officers in 1963 and should have been executed in an electric chair. The Supreme Court saved this miscreant in 1972 when they outlawed capital punishment. I think it would be better if your University conducted a forum on "The Life without My Loved One, Who Was Killed Protecting Our Society". I am sure there are a few wives and children out there who could teach a crowd a thing or two about what it is like when your Hero Father or Hero Husband is killed just because he was a Police Officer.
I have decided to write to you after I saw the following advertisement:
How to Survive Parole/Probation in NJ - A Educational Panel Discussion 1/22/05
FRIENDS Transition Support Services [TSS] is sponsoring a highly informative and lively panel discussion on how to survive on Parole and Probation in NJ on Saturday, January 22, 2005 from 10am to
12pm at Rutgers University Law School, Camden, Room 207.
This session is for anyone who is:
1. On parole or probation or maxed out or a family member or a
friend of someone in prison or on probation or parole.
2. A social service provider working for or within the criminal justice system
3. A college student
4. Seriously concerned with the issue of social justice and a more peaceful community.
Panel members:
Lenny Ward, District Parole Supervisor for Community Programs
Leah Morris, South Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney
Dr. Drew Humphries, Prof. of Criminology and Sociology, Rutgers Un.
Thomas Trantino, Parolee & Program Coordinator, FRIENDS Transition Support Services
Panel members representing diverse points of view will focus on the critical and controversial issue of re-entry and its impact on the community. At the conclusion of the panel presentations, members of
the audience will be provided time to interact in a discussion w/the panel members and with other members of the audience.
For more information contact FRIENDS TSS 856-963-7000 or Friendstss@earthlink.org
Friendstss@earthlink.org
__________________
To think that Thomas Trantino
will be given even one second to speak at your institution infuriates me. I am sure it would infuriate every other cop, retired cop and cops family members out there too. I have always thought of Rutgers
as a University with an excellent educational program and have a son who was thinking about transferring there for his last two years of college. By the way my son's major is Criminal Justice Administration as he wanted to follow in my footsteps and work in Law Enforcement after graduation.
I am writing to you as this animal, and thats what he is, is probably at the microphone telling a group of bleeding heart liberals how hard it is to be on Parole or Probation. Well, for your
information it is harder for the wife of a murdered Police Officer to tell her small children that Daddy won't be coming to dinner anymore, or fixing bikes, or going to ball games, or
playing Santa on Christmas Eve or putting a band-aid on cut knee's.
Thomas Trantino
should be buried six feet closer to the devil than be able to speak of how hard he had it on Parole.
Maybe you should send your Admissions booklet to prisons so that the rest of the people who are going to
have it so hard re-entering society can register and hear what they have to know. I can assure you that none of my children will be anywhere near Rutgers University
. You are allowing a disservice to be done to your institution and you offend the thousands of society's protectors who go out there day after day and put their lives on the line.
Patrick F. Walsh
Retired Sergeant,
New York City Police Department
FORUM RESPONSES:
Dear Mr. Walsh,
Thank you for writing to me to express your concern over the appearance of Thomas Trantino at a January 22 event on the Rutgers-Camden campus
. I respect your views on this matter and recognize the depth of emotion and outrage that any appearance by Mr. Trantino generates. Frankly, your outrage is justified, especially given the brutality with which
two brave police officers were killed.
But Rutgers is bound, as a public university, to follow the First Amendment
in regard to our policy allowing community organizations to use our facilities for lawful purposes. By law we cannot discriminate in allowing such events and speakers, despite the controversy they may generate or our own feelings about them.
It is important to state that Rutgers did not invite Mr. Trantino
to speak on our campus, nor did the university sponsor the forum. The event was sponsored and produced by a religious organization, the Quaker Haddonfield Friends Meeting
, which reserved space at Rutgers as hundreds of other organizations do every year. Let me add that the Rutgers faculty member who appeared on the panel participated as a community activity on her own.
I
have immense admiration for our state’s police officers, who risk their lives every day in protecting our families and communities. The families, friends, and colleagues of Sergeant Voto
and Patrolman Tedesco, and indeed of all those killed in the line of duty, deserve our deepest sympathies. Please know that our allowing the event to be held was
not meant in any way to condone Mr. Trantino or his actions, or to offend the men and women who serve and protect us.
Sincerely yours,
Richard L. McCormick
President
I am Gary Tedesco's sister...Thomas Trantino
brutally murdered my 21 year old brother for kicks and now gets to speak on a panel at Rutgers.... Why doesn't Rutgers
have the two families who have lived with this for over 40 years talk about what that has been like?
And why is the Quaker Society
paying for his legal fees when he is charged with another crime soon after parole.. Why are they paying for his apartment and providing forums for him to speak? How disgusting is this?
http://www.pym.org/pm/comments.php?id=1221_0_5_0_C
Only cowards would represent him.............cowards who don't have the "guts" to speak to the families left behind. .People like Priscilla who heads up this Quaker Haddonfield organization
needs a real wake up call ... perhaps some serious therapy. It is my hope that the support for the Quaker
society stops when people learn that they support both financially and emotionally VIOLENT CRIMINALS. As the sister who has lived with this nightmare from 11 years
old.. now 53.... it makes me sick to my stomach...........and we will continue to fight for justice to be served...and the world to know .
Patricia Tedesco
Proud Sister of Gary Tedesco
FORUM RESPONSES SHOULD BE SENT TO: CaptainReuss@Verizon.net
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