Alexandria, Virginia – The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), representing some 250,000 sworn state and local law enforcement officers across the United States, has long called for the rendition of Joanne Chesimard, and other violent fugitives from Cuba to ensure that those who commit violent, heinous crimes face justice, and that the families of those who lost their lives are brought peace.

Chesimard, a.k.a. Assata Shakur, the only woman on the FBI’s most wanted terrorist list for her role in the execution-style murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973, had been living a free life in Cuba since 1984. Administration after Administration ignored our urgent calls for her extradition and now with her death, the family of Trooper Foerster will never get the opportunity to see justice done.

The fact that violent fugitives like Chesimard and William Morales have been allowed to live their lives free in Cuba and elsewhere abroad is an affront to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting our communities as law enforcement officers – above all to the family and friends of police officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Justice must be served. These cop-killers cannot be allowed to continue to walk free. We must not let other families suffer without closure like Trooper Foerster’s has. We urge the Administration to seek by all means the immediate return of all violent fugitives who have escaped justice.