"I was deeply saddened to hear about the shooting of New York State Trooper Douglas Hoffman this morning in Tupper Lake. Once again, we are reminded of the perils faced by our law enforcement professionals each and every day as they strive to keep our families and communities safe. My thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Hoffman and his family during this difficult time.

"Over the past several years, it has been open season on police officers in our state. In fact, between 2002 and 2006, 13 of New York's finest were killed in the line of duty. It is the role of state government to honor our men and women in blue. The daily demands of their jobs can turn deadly in a matter of seconds.

"Currently, those convicted of first-degree murder of a police or corrections officer may be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole or a sentence with a maximum of lifetime imprisonment. I have proposed legislation that would give juries the opportunity to impose the death penalty in these instances.

"Both Majority and Minority members in the Assembly support this common-sense measure, and the Senate has twice passed similar legislation. Therefore, I call on Speaker Sheldon Silver to allow a vote to reinstate the death penalty for cop killers when we return to Albany in September. New York's law enforcement community deserves every protection we can possibly grant them. It is the least we can do."