To All Delegates and Members

October 4, 2002

While on patrol over 21 years ago Police Officer’s Scarangella and Richard Rainey were ambushed by Black Liberation Army member Anthony LaBorde. Police Officer Rainey (now-retired) was injured and Police Officer John Scarangella was killed.

Under a recently amended New York State Son-of-Sam law signed by Governor George Pataki in June 2001, crime victims and survivors are now permitted to sue convicted criminals who obtained assets (money, real property, etc.) no matter how long after they committed their crime.

The PBA authorized the filing of a civil lawsuit against Anthony LaBorde on behalf of Vivian Scarangella, the wife of slain Police Officer Scarangella and Police Officer Rainey. Our attorneys commenced this lawsuit in order to seek a permanent injunction to enable the New York State Attorney General to freeze assets Mr. LaBorde received as part of a settlement concerning his prison conditions.

Supreme Court Justice Bernard Malone ruled in the last week of September 2002 that the new Son-of-Sam Law can be used to obtain that money and froze the $15,000 that had been deposited in LaBorde’s inmate account. This permanent injunction prevents him from spending or distributing those funds while the State Victims Board takes action on behalf of his victims.

While no amount of money will ever compensate for the loss of a loved one this lawsuit will send a clear message. If you kill or injure a police officer no matter how many years ago, the PBA will never forget. We will be there to ensure that the criminals who kill police officers are never allowed to acquire any assets/funds as long as they are alive.

Fraternally,

Patrick J. Lynch
President