The Case of David McClary: A Cop Killer’s Quest for Parole
In a recent plea to the New York state parole board, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John Durham, vehemently opposed the parole of David McClary, the notorious cop killer responsible for the brutal execution of NYPD Officer Eddie Byrne in 1988.
Durham argued that McClary’s crime represents the “worst of the worst” and should not be granted parole, emphasizing the heinous nature of the murder.
David McClary shot Officer Byrne five times in the head during an ambush orchestrated by a gang in which Byrne, a rookie cop at the age of 22, was guarding a witness preparing to testify against drug lord Howard “Pappy” Mason.
Mason, who was already in prison at the time, ordered McClary to carry out the killing as an act of revenge against the NYPD and the witness. The witness’s home was also firebombed in connection to the crime.
Despite serving a 25 years-to-life sentence, McClary has made numerous attempts at parole, each of which has been denied. Durham stressed that McClary has never shown genuine remorse for his actions and continues to pose a risk to society.
The parole board’s decision on McClary’s release is pending, with a potential hearing scheduled for this month. However, Byrne’s family and law enforcement officials remain steadfast in their belief that McClary should remain behind bars for the rest of his life.
With the parole board’s evolving guidelines and the push for inmate “progress” to be a deciding factor in release decisions, the fate of David McClary hangs in the balance as he awaits a potential parole hearing.
