Mercer County Sheriff Was Among Those Calling For Joanne Chesimard's Return From Cuba

About a month after the Sheriffs’ Association of New Jersey (SANJ) sent a letter to all New Jersey U.S. Senators and Congressional members requesting their support in capturing fugitive Joanne Chesimard (aka Assata Shakur), Cuba was officially removed from the United States’ list of state sponsors of terrorism on Friday.

Cuba harbors Chesimard, who is on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list for killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973. The country granted her asylum in 1979. According to the State Department, Cuba has agreed to discuss fugitives as part of a broader dialogue on law enforcement.

“The United States should not be taking Cuba off the terrorist watchlist while we are still in the midst of negotiating details to restore full diplomatic relations,” Gov. Chris Christie said on Friday. “The condition for which Cuba is able to join the rest of the civilized world must rest on the country’s commitment to hand over every terrorist currently being harbored, starting with Joanne Chesimard who executed New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and escaped custody.”

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez called the policy “dangerous and misguided.”

“The fact is, the Castro regime has not shown one iota of change in its actions that earned it a spot on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list,” Menendez said. “Cuba still provides sanctuary to Joanne Chesimard who remains on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorism List for the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster, it recently was caught sending arms to North Korea in the single largest violation of United Nations Security Council sanctions, and also received a shipment from a Chinese arms manufacturer that was seemingly headed for Colombia’s terrorist organization FARC.”

The aforementioned letter, sent under the signature of SANJ President and Salem County Sheriff Charles M. Miller, requested Chesimard be returned to New Jersey from Cuba to finish her prison sentence.

Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler endorsed the letter.

The text of that letter, sent on May 1 to the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, read as follows:

“I am writing to you today regarding Joanne Chesimard, the first woman ever to be on the FBI’s Most Wanted List.

“The Cuban government has been providing safe haven to this convicted murderer for the past 31 years. In New Jersey, On May 2, 1973, Joanne Chesimard took part in a cold blooded execution-style killing of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Forester while also seriously injuring New Jersey State Trooper James Harper.

“Joanne Chesimard, along with two male friends was pulled over on the New Jersey Turnpike. The traffic stop was conducted by State Troopers Forester and Harper.

“Joanne Chesimard and her occupants were all armed with semi-automatic handguns and initiated a gun fight with the law enforcement officers.

“During this shootout, Joanne Chesimard’s gun was used to shoot Trooper Foerster in the stomach. Then as he laid incapacitated on the ground, Trooper Foerster’s own weapon was used against him and he was executed with two rounds shot into his head.

“Joanne Chesimard was convicted in 1977 of 1st-degree murder and a number of other offenses stemming from this tragic incident.

“She was sentenced to life in prison. However Chesimard, utilizing armed accomplices, escaped from prison in 1979 and has been a fugitive from justice ever since. It is believed that she moved to Cuba in 1984 and has, since that time, lived a free life under the support of the Cuban Government.

“In 1998, the US. House of Representatives passed Concurrent Resolution 254 by a vote of 371-0 requesting that the Cuban government return Joanne Chesimard to the United States.

“In 1998, the US. Senate passed Concurrent Resolution 254 by unanimous consent requesting that the Cuban government return Joanne Chesimard to the United States.

“In 2005, the Department of Justice approved an increase in the reward to $1 million dollars for the capture of Joanne Chesimard. In 2013, the Federal Bureau of Investigation placed Joanne Chesimard on its Most Wanted Terrorist List and increased the reward to $2 million for her capture.

“In closing, we the State Sheriff’s Association of New Jersey are asking you for your support in doing whatever it takes to capture Joanne Chesimard and return her to New Jersey to finish her prison sentence. “This will not only bring final closure to the families of New Jersey State Troopers Foerster and Harper, but it will send a stern message worldwide that criminal acts against United States Law Enforcement Officers will not be tolerated and those responsible will be brought to justice.”

{Sheriff Signature}

SANJ President and Salem County Sheriff Charles M. Miller

Photo: New Jersey State Police website