Parole Board Denies Release for Notorious Cop Killer
The parole board in New York has turned down the request for freedom from one of the city’s most notorious police killers. Meanwhile, the family of the slain officer continues their fight to keep his accomplice behind bars.
David McClary, a convicted gang member responsible for the murder of police officer Edward Byrne back in 1988, sought parole on July 22 but was sent back to Wende Correctional Facility in Erie County.
A parole committee, consisting of 16 members appointed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo, has blocked parole for 43 cop killers since 2017, according to the Police Charity Association.
Byrne, just 22 at the time, was sitting in a police vehicle in Queens, safeguarding a witness in a drug case when he was shot five times in the head. McClary and his accomplices later bragged about the crime.
“He must remain in prison; he has no health or capability, and he doesn’t deserve to return to the streets,” stated Kenneth Byrne, the brother of the fallen officer.
At around 3:30 a.m., while parked on 107th Avenue, the officers were surveilling the home of an immigrant witness whose house had previously been targeted by bombings due to a drug deal he reported.
During the attack, one shooter approached Byrne’s side of the vehicle while another entered through the driver’s side and shot him with a .38 caliber gun.
The younger Byrne recalls the devastation his family faced. “It’s absolutely horrifying to see your parents collapse on the floor,” he said. “My parents were suffering because of this.” President Ronald Reagan had even reached out at the time to express his condolences.
This murder shocked the entire city. “It has remained at the forefront of our minds for years, given how shocking the crime was,” Kenneth noted.
McClary was not the only one involved; three others—Philip Copeland, Todd Scott, and Scott Cobb—were also arrested and convicted for their roles in the murder.
“Every two years, we have to go through this again,” Kenneth lamented. His brother Larry, who served as the NYPD’s legal head, conducted the parole hearings until he passed away in 2020.
McClary’s return for a new hearing next year has already been scheduled. In another concerning case, Todd Scott, currently serving 25 years, will be appearing before the board soon.
As for Howard “Puppy” Mason, he remains incarcerated for ordering drug-related assaults and murders while in prison.
Byrne believes many inmates frequently tell the board that they would contribute positively to society if released. “Eddie was performing a duty that benefited the public,” he pointed out, “and they just cut his life short.”
