As a slain Massachusetts police officer is laid to rest, officials in the state court system have announced plans to review the handling of the criminal cases of the man alleged to have gunned down the officer. The suspect was later killed by police.
Jorge Zambrano, accused of gunning down Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino after a traffic stop Sunday, and then dying after a shootout with State Police, had a long criminal history. Some have questioned why he was not in jail.
Released in 2013 from state prison after serving seven years for cocaine trafficking, Zambrano, 35, had six subsequent arrests, including one for assaulting a Worcester police officer in January. He was back in front of a judge in February for a domestic assault and, over the objection of the prosecutor from the Worcester District Attorney’s office, freed on $500 bail. In March, he was put on probation.
A spokesperson for the State Trial Court said there will be a “full and thorough” examination of how the criminal justice system handled Zambrano’s cases. The investigation is expected to be completed by mid-June.
Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said there are a number of issues to look into.
" I think this is an opportunity for us, the outgrowth of a tragedy no question, to review and evaluate the current proceedures in the criminal justice system," said Gulluni.
Gulluni and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, this week, renewed a call for the state legislature to pass a bail-reform bill. They want a law that would allow prosecutors to appeal bail decisions. Current law allows defendants to appeal to try to lower the bail set by a District Court judge, but prosecutors cannot appeal bail decisions to a higher court.
" No one is infallible and we want to have the opportunity in situations in which we feel public safety is in jeopardy or is at risk or in the discussion to have a second set of eyes to look at a matter where bail is at stake," said Gulluni.
At a City Hall news conference, Sarno said the accounts he read of Zambrano’s criminal history, including several violent confrontations with police, were “chilling.”
" We are sending out a clarion call to the legislature, to the mayors, to people in elected positions, and advocates that now is the time, now is the time to seriously look at passing this legislation," said Sarno.
The proposed legislation was filed in the House last October by Democratic State Representatives Angelo Puppolo of Springfield and Michael Finn of West Springfield.
" We worked very hard with District Attorney Gulluni ( and others) to craft legislation that would not take away any defendants rights whatsoever. We are looking just to have an even playing field," said Sarno.
Springfield Police Deputy Chief William Cochrane said the proposed bail-reform law would support the work of police.
" It is frustrating for the officers to make a good arrest, and then find out a couple of days or a week or a month later they are chasing the same individual in a stolen car or around the corner ane they're dealing in gang activity. It is so frustrating," said Cochrane.
The bail-reform bill is currently in the House Judiciary Committee waiting to be reported out.
