POUGHKEEPSIE- State Senator Rob Rolison (R, Poughkeepsie) has sent a letter to the state parole board demanding parole be denied for a man convicted of killing an NYPD officer on Valentine’s Day in 1984.
NYPD Officer Thomas Ruotolo was shot and killed by George Agosto, who at the time was out on parole following a manslaughter charge. Agosto was sentenced to 40 years-to-life for the murder of Ruotolo.
“In my view, Mr. Agosto should spend the rest of his life behind bars for the killing of Officer Ruotolo and the attempted murder of his partner during a suspected robbery stop,” Rolison wrote in the letter. Rolison, a former police officer and detective in the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, attended Ruotolo’s funeral in 1984.
“Please, do not dishonor Officer Ruotolo’s memory and create further suffering for his family by releasing Mr. Agosto back into the community,” wrote Rolison.
Agosto is now 63 years old and has served almost 39 years in prison. The parole board will consider whether or not to grant or deny his release in September.
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