Devaney Urges Review of Parole System Following Cop Killer's Release

Devaney urges review of parole system following cop killer' s release Photo by Zara Tzanev Marilyn Devaney By Laura Paine Wicked Local Watertown Posted Jan 04, 2011 @ 02:25 PM WATERTOWN — Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Devaney wants to ensure that an incident like the death of Woburn Police Officer John “Jack” Maguire doesn’t happen again. The Watertown resident is now calling on Governor Deval Patrick to thoroughly review the entire state parole system, following a decision by the board to release a career criminal accused of killing Maguire in the line of duty. “I’m not going to leave a stone unturned,” Devaney told the Watertown TAB & Press. “It’s not my responsibility to do it but I can’t sit back and let this go. I’m going to do everything I can to se how we can get further legislation. This man could have retired and enjoyed his life. I can’t even find words for the way the system broke down.” On Dec. 29, Patrick ordered a review of the Massachusetts Parole Board, three days after Maguire, 60, of Wilmington, was shot at least four times after giving foot chase following a holdup at a jewelry counter at a Kohl's store during Sunday night's blizzard. One suspect, Dominic Cinelli, 57, of Woburn, was also killed in an exchange of gunfire. Police identified Cinelli as the man who fired the shot that killed Maguire. Cinelli was a parolee with a long criminal record. According to Cinelli’s records, he was serving three concurrent life sentences for several armed robberies, armed assault with intent to commit murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm when he was released from pr ison. “Three life sentences with parole, ” Devaney said. “It’s wrong. When you give a life sentence it should be without parole. Here is a man that never pulled out his revolver in 34 years and he was shot. This was not the first time murderers were let out. It will happen again if we don’t stop t he system now.” Devane y, who’ s role as a governor’ s councilor includes approving nominees to the Massachusetts Par ole Board, said she would like to see the terms of life sentences with parole changed, want s to make sure that a judge’s performance is regularly monitored, and believes an independent investi gation needs to be conducted to make sure it is looked at from as many angles as possible. “The more eyes and the more focus on this from different perspectives; I think that’s healthy,” Devaney said. “How could you support that decision [to release Cinelli]? I am heartsick over it. It can’t just be the parole board; it has to go all the way through the system.” She said that the real problem lies within the judges that sympathize with c riminals. “We need to have periodical reviews of judges,” Devaney said. “We have to see, when we look at some of these judges, how they have been so lenient with pedophiles and murderers. If we had a periodical review we would be able to evaluate it. Judges have a lot of discretion.” While this investigation may not fall under her jurisdi ction of Governor’ s Councilor, Devaney promises she will work hard to make a change. “I’m so devastated by this,” Devaney said. “When I was at the funeral I felt like I had a weight on my chest and I couldn’t get it off. It was so wrong and it never had to happen.” Scott Hanwright, 19, of Wakefield was charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery and Kevin Dingwell, 51, of Wakefield was charged with accessory after the fact—both in connection with the Dec. 26 robbery and shooting.

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Devaney Urges Review of Parole System Following Cop Killer's Release