Police Murders New York City

Hundreds of police officers came together Tuesday to mourn the loss of a comrade who was killed by a bucket of plaster hurled from a building's roof, an act that quickly became an issue in the heated mayoral race. Housing police officer John Williamson was hit by the 30-pound pail Friday as police helped tow illegally parked cars from Washington Heights, one of the city's roughest neighborhoods. "When a police officer dies, the very heart and soul of the city dies a little bit. . . .

Hundreds of police officers came together Tuesday to mourn the loss of a comrade who was killed by a bucket of plaster hurled from a building's roof, an act that quickly became an issue in the heated mayoral race. Housing police officer John Williamson was hit by the 30-pound pail Friday as police helped tow illegally parked cars from Washington Heights, one of the city's roughest neighborhoods. "When a police officer dies, the very heart and soul of the city dies a little bit. . . .

Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh pledged to seek the death penalty for the killer of an unarmed federal drug agent killed during an investigation of cocaine dealing on Staten Island. The vow came as a civic group, Citizens Outraged at Police Being Shot, posted a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

Reputed drug lord Howard (Pappy) Mason was indicted on federal racketeering charges in the 1988 execution-style slaying of rookie Officer Edward Byrne, authorities said. Mason, who is in state prison, was charged with masterminding the killing of Byrne, 22, who was shot five times in the head while guarding the home of a witness in a drug case. Byrne was killed Feb. 26, 1988, the day after Mason was arrested on gun possession charges.

About 10,000 police officers attended last rites in Seaford, N.Y., for Edward Byrne, a 22-year-old policeman killed while protecting a witness in a drug case. It was the largest police turnout for a fallen colleague in the history of the New York City Police, authorities said. They came from Texas and Ohio, Maryland and Rhode Island, and they lined the eight blocks approaching St. James Church.

About 12,000 law officers stood at attention outside a New York City church where a funeral Mass was held for two policemen who were shot in separate incidents within hours of each other. Busloads of New York police officers, their shields draped with black mourning bands, were joined by colleagues from around the state and from Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut for what officials called the largest police funeral in city history.

Police officers were ordered to wear bulletproof vests on city streets Wednesday after two officers, who didn't have on vests, were shot to death in separate incidents. The order, issued by Police Commissioner Benjamin Ward just hours after the Tuesday night shootings, said the two officers "might have survived if they were wearing their vests." Officers are issued bulletproof vests during their training at the police academy, but were not previously required to wear them on the job.

Reputed drug lord Howard (Pappy) Mason was indicted on federal racketeering charges in the 1988 execution-style slaying of rookie Officer Edward Byrne, authorities said. Mason, who is in state prison, was charged with masterminding the killing of Byrne, 22, who was shot five times in the head while guarding the home of a witness in a drug case. Byrne was killed Feb. 26, 1988, the day after Mason was arrested on gun possession charges.

Three men were convicted Wednesday in the execution-style murder of a rookie policeman whose death became an issue in last year's presidential campaign and helped set the national agenda in the war on drugs. Scott Cobb, 25, was convicted of second-degree murder and weapons charges for his role in the death of Officer Edward Byrne, 22, who was shot five times on Feb. 26, 1988, while he sat in his patrol car guarding the home of a witness.

A federal jury Sunday convicted three mobsters in the shooting death of a New York City police detective during a stakeout at a Queens diner. Federico (Fritzi) Giovanelli, 56, Steven Maltese, 55, and Carmine Gualtiere, 58, were convicted of killing Anthony Venditti and wounding his partner, Kathleen Burke, to protect a multimillion-dollar bookmaking enterprise. Two previous trials ended in hung juries.

A federal jury Sunday convicted three mobsters in the shooting death of a New York City police detective during a stakeout at a Queens diner. Federico (Fritzi) Giovanelli, 56, Steven Maltese, 55, and Carmine Gualtiere, 58, were convicted of killing Anthony Venditti and wounding his partner, Kathleen Burke, to protect a multimillion-dollar bookmaking enterprise. Two previous trials ended in hung juries.

Three men were convicted Wednesday in the execution-style murder of a rookie policeman whose death became an issue in last year's presidential campaign and helped set the national agenda in the war on drugs. Scott Cobb, 25, was convicted of second-degree murder and weapons charges for his role in the death of Officer Edward Byrne, 22, who was shot five times on Feb. 26, 1988, while he sat in his patrol car guarding the home of a witness.

Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh pledged to seek the death penalty for the killer of an unarmed federal drug agent killed during an investigation of cocaine dealing on Staten Island. The vow came as a civic group, Citizens Outraged at Police Being Shot, posted a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

About 12,000 law officers stood at attention outside a New York City church where a funeral Mass was held for two policemen who were shot in separate incidents within hours of each other. Busloads of New York police officers, their shields draped with black mourning bands, were joined by colleagues from around the state and from Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut for what officials called the largest police funeral in city history.

Police officers were ordered to wear bulletproof vests on city streets Wednesday after two officers, who didn't have on vests, were shot to death in separate incidents. The order, issued by Police Commissioner Benjamin Ward just hours after the Tuesday night shootings, said the two officers "might have survived if they were wearing their vests." Officers are issued bulletproof vests during their training at the police academy, but were not previously required to wear them on the job.

About 10,000 police officers attended last rites in Seaford, N.Y., for Edward Byrne, a 22-year-old policeman killed while protecting a witness in a drug case. It was the largest police turnout for a fallen colleague in the history of the New York City Police, authorities said. They came from Texas and Ohio, Maryland and Rhode Island, and they lined the eight blocks approaching St. James Church.