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Five police unions are urging senators to oppose the nomination of Adeel Mangi for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals over his affiliation with the Alliance of Families for Justice.<\/p>\n
Mangi sits on the advisory board for the Alliance, a group that supports individuals who killed police officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn letters to various senators, the organizations highlight Mangi\u2019s role on the advisory board of the Alliance of Families for Justice (AFJ), an organization not only co-founded by a cop killer, but that also has described other convicted cop killers as \u2018freedom fighters,’\u201d reads a press release<\/a> from the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.<\/p>\n The five groups sending the letters were the Rockland County Patrolmen\u2019s Benevolent Association, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriffs\u2019 Association, the State Troopers NCO Association of New Jersey, and the New Jersey State Policemen\u2019s Benevolent Association.<\/p>\n The letter from the National Sheriffs\u2019 Association read<\/a>, \u201cThe fact that Mr. Mangi, as an Advisory Board member, aligns himself with an organization advocating for the release of convicted cop-killers is seriously disturbing. This stance is not only tone-deaf to the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers, but also disrespectful to the victims of heinous crimes, as well as the family and friends of officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMr. Mangi\u2019s association with the Alliance raises concerns about a potential bias against victims and law enforcement, which could impact his decision-making as a lifetime appointed judge,\u201d the letter added.<\/p>\n The National Association of Police Organizations wrote<\/a>, \u201cIt is one thing to stand up for the rights of those shunned or mistreated by society. It is a far different thing to exalt unrepentant killers who were convicted following legal trials in courts of law. Mr. Mangi is smart enough to know the difference, and has made his choice.\u201d<\/p>\n From the Rockland County Patrolmen\u2019s Benevolent Association: \u201cIt is pure disrespect to the men and women of Rockland County Patrolmen\u2019s Benevolent Association, past and present, the citizens of Nyack, and Rockland County that terrorist cop killers who were convicted beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law could be held as heroes and icons to a man seeking the great responsible of upholding the rule of law.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe strongly condemn any person or group who advocates in favor of those who have attacked and killed law enforcement officers,\u201d they continued. \u201cAdvocating for unrepentant copkillers in the name of justice is an insult to all those who don the uniform every day to serve and protect.\u201d<\/p>\n Similarly, the State Troopers NCO Association of New Jersey wrote<\/a>, \u201cWe strongly condemn any group who advocates in favor of those who have attacked and killed law enforcement officers. Advocating for unrepentant cop-killers in the name of justice is an insult to all those who don the uniform every day to serve and protect.\u201d<\/p>\n The New Jersey State Policemen\u2019s Benevolent Association emphasized<\/a> that while they can \u201crespect a lawyer who represents criminal defendants to the best of their ability,\u201d they cannot respect a lawyer \u201cwho so blatantly promotes the opinion that the police are criminals, and the cop-killers are the victims. He has disqualified himself as an impartial decider of facts where police are involved, and we therefore ask that his nomination be defeated in the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n