FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2005

PA FOP CONDEMNS RECENT COURT DECISION TO HEAR CLAIMS BY
CONVICTED COP KILLER MUMIA ABU-JAMAL  

            HARRISBURG – Fraternal Order of Police Pennsylvania State Lodge President Mark Koch today said the entire Pennsylvania law enforcement community is shocked and saddened to learn that the United States Third Circuit Court of Appeals would hear arguments on three claims by convicted cop killer and Pennsylvania death row prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal that his 1982 trial and state appeal were tainted by constitutional violations.  If any of the claims are upheld, Abu Jamal could be granted a new trial. 

            “This is a tragic and despicable development,” Koch said.  “The facts in this case are clear: Mumia Abu Jamal shot and murdered Officer Danny Faulkner in cold blood.  Instead of being allowed to move on, Danny’s family is forced to continually relive that horrible night.  To make matters worse, this news came only days before another officer, State Police Cpl. Joseph Pokorny, was gunned down in cold blood. 

            “The state FOP is dedicating all of its resources in 2006 to see to it that these criminals and their despicable crimes against police officers and their families will not be tolerated.”

PRESS RELEASE -   Philadelphia F.O.P. LODGE #5 Responds to Appeal !!

On behalf of the Police Officers of F.O.P. Lodge #5, Philadelphia along with our brothers and sisters in Law Enforcement throughout the country, we are outraged, shocked, and dismayed to learn that the third Circuit Court of appeals would consider that Convicted Cop Killer Mumia Abu Jamal should get a new trial.

The facts of the case that convicted the cowardly acts of Mumia Abu Jamal on the December 09th, 1981 murder of Police Officer Danny Faulkner are still the same 24 years later.

The facts of the case have and always have been clear, concise, and overwhelming. - - consider the following: -Police arrived within moments after the incident and found Mumia Jamal sitting on the curb, wounded and only a short distance from the dead officer. -Officer Faulkner's spent bullet was found in the attackers' chest. -The attacker, Mumia Abu Jamal, was wearing a shoulder holster. -Mumia Abu Jamal's gun was registered to him, in his name. -The attackers' gun was found near him with five spent shells, two of which were in the body of the deceased Officer.

In addition to a spontaneous statement, in which Mumia Jamal stated he shot the officer, three (3) eyewitnesses positively identified Mumia Abu Jamal as the shooter at the scene of the murder.

One eyewitness stated she saw the officer shot in the back by Mumia Abu Jamal. Another eyewitness testified he never lost sight of the defendant (Jamal), from the time he shot the officer, until police placed him in custody.

Still another eyewitness testified he was so close to the shooting of the Police Officer, that the witness could see the officer's body jerk- "his whole body jerked when he was shot in the face."

The jury, multiracial in it is making up, was chosen with Mumia Jamal's personal participation and found the evidence against him to be overwhelming. To that end, the jury, not the Judge, voted unanimously to convict Mumia Abu Jamal of First Degree Murder and imposed the death penalty because he executed Officer Faulkner in cold blood.

Mumia Abu Jamal has had numerous legal appeals through the court system including the Commonwealth Court, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and our highest court in the land, The United States Supreme Court. His convictions were upheld at every level.

This entire appeal is ridiculous. It is a smack in the face to not only the entire legal process, but to Danny Faulkner's family. How much suffering must they endure?

Enough is Enough!  Danny Faulkner is dead. He can no longer Love, Laugh or have a family - He had no appeals!

Submitted by Jim Wheeler - FOP Vice-President