Cop Killer to Go Before Parole Review Board Today

Today, Anthony Blanks, the man convicted of shooting Larchmont Police Officer Arthur DeMatte on October 12, 1976, will go before a parole review board at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Wallkill, NY where he is presently serving a sentence of 25 years to life.

According to Carol Weaver, a New York State Division of Parole spokeswoman, the review is not open to anyone other than the parties involved in the process.  Banks will receive a written notice of the board’s decision within 48 hours.

Nearly 35 years ago, DeMatte was fatally shot in the chest and arm by Blanks after he responded to a call about a person wandering along the railroad tracks near 2141 Palmer Ave.  Blanks gained control of DeMatte’s weapon, leaving DeMatte unarmed when the shooting occurred.

DeMatte was 46 years old when he died, leaving behind a wife and four children.  in Larchmont—located at the intersection of Parkway Street and Palmer Avenue—is dedicated to the former police officer with a memorial plaque and flag.

As Patch , the Larchmont community has protested Blanks’ release on parole and has circulated petitions requesting that his parole be denied.  Within the last few weeks, many have left supportive comments in DeMatte’s memory on the Officer Down Memorial Page, a website founded in January of 1996 by Chris Cosgriff that is dedicated to police officers who died in the line of duty.

So far, more than 3,400 individuals have signed an online petition opposing Blanks' parole, said Mike Schutz, director of the Officer Down Memorial Page. The "No Parole For Cop Killers" initiative was started last month, said Schutz, and can be accessed at the top of Dematte's page by clicking on "Cop Killer Parole Alert" and filling out a prefilled letter that's sent to the parole board.

"We'd love to put ourselves out of business," said Schutz, referring to the company's mission to have convicted cop murderers serve their full sentences.

As he has , Larchmont Mayor Josh Mandell released a statement, an excerpt of which appears here:

“Arthur was a well-known and loved member of this village, having earned a reputation as a hero at work and with his family long before that fateful day.  His family’s loss was, and continues to be, shared by the entire Village of Larchmont.  It reminds us that, while we may live in one of the safest communities in the country, we are safe from harm only because brave and fearless individuals stand in harm’s way every day of the year.”

Stay tuned for further developments in this story.

Editor's Note: A paragraph about the Officer Down Memorial Page was added to an earlier version of this article.