At a press conference in Mineola, Nassau County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Gary DelaRaba and other members of the PBA urged the board of the New York State Division of Parole to deny parole to a man convicted in connection to the killing of a Nassau County police officer.

According to police, officer Matthew Giglio responded to a burglary on October 7, 1975 at a store in West Hempstead. After arriving at the scene, Giglio attempted to apprehend a man exiting the store. The man fired a shot at point blank range hitting Giglio in the chest, according to police.

Giglio was rushed to the hospital, where he remained in a comatose condition for several months. He died on Dec. 16, 1975, leaving behind a wife and three children.

John MacKenzie was convicted of second degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. However, MacKenzie's earliest date of release if he were granted parole would be August 28, 2004. MacKenzie had been eligible for parole in 2000 and 2002.

In 2002, New York State Assemblyman Tom Alfano joined with police officers in urging the New York State Parole Board to deny McKenzie parole.

Now, police are again urging the board to deny the parole. "We owe it to the family or any murdered police officer to do everything in our power to see that a cop killer never walks free," said DelaRaba. "We have to send a strong message that says killing a police officer will bring with it the maximum penalty."

According to the Nassau County District Attorney Appeals Bureau 2000 annual report, MacKenzie tried to overturn his conviction with litigation. According to the annual report, the history of litigation aimed at overturning his conviction and sentence has been extensive and has included virtually every means of legal challenge imaginable. He twice appealed the jury's verdict to the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division. The first challenge, in 1980, was successful, according to the Appeals Bureau. In 1981, there was a retrial and conviction.

In 2000, the Elmont and North Valley Stream communities dedicated a street median at Corona Avenue and Dutch Broadway in memory of Officer Giglio.