Brutality, Cruelty, and Lies...Chief Tumolo Must Be Fired!

“Sorry” Is Not Enough: How Many InnocentsMust Go To Prison? How Many Must Die?

It has been more than four months since Jeffrey Deskovic emerged from state prison fully exonerated after needlessly spending sixteen years of his young life behind bars. The tragic truth is that his incarceration was no mere accident, no “righteous handling.”

Jeffrey Deskovic lost his youth, his innocence, and more than sixteen, of what should have been the best years of his life, at the hands of a few misguided, self-serving creatures, under the direction of a monster, who is now Chief of Police for the City of Peekskill, Eugene Tumolo. Because of then-Lieutenant Tumolo’s single-minded ambition, and eagerness to send somebody, anybody, to prison for the rape and murder of fifteenyear- old Angela Correa, an innocent young man surrendered sixteen years of his life, and another young woman, Pat Morrison lost her life, at the hands of the actual killer, Steven Cunningham, left free in the Peekskill community.
Those who have read Mr. Deskovic’s accounts in The Westchester Guardian over the past several weeks know that he is neither bitter nor vindictive over what was done to him. Calls for Police Chief Tumolo’s removal are not about reprisal. They are about the safety and well-being of every man, woman and child in Peekskill. We do not believe that that responsibility should be left in the hands of someone who would do what Eugene Tumolo did to young Jeffrey Deskovic.

We now ask Mayor John Testa: What are you waiting for before you do the right thing by the People of Peekskill, and relieve Police Chief Tumolo of his command? You know, and every citizen of Peekskill knows, that your Chief of Police, Eugene Tumolo, cannot be trusted to do the honorable thing. He, and his subordinates, Detectives Levine, and McIntyre, together with Westchester Assistant District Attorney George Bolen, knowingly, and maliciously charged and prosecuted a young, innocent boy of 16, whose DNA, and whose hair follicles, did not match those found in the vagina of, and on the body of, poor Angela Correa. Tumolo and his henchmen knew perfectly well that Jeffrey Deskovic was an innocent kid.

Mayor Testa, what will it take before you demand Chief Tumolo’s resignation? Given that it has been more than four months since the facts were brought to light, could it be that Chief Tumolo has some power over you, something that keeps you from protecting the People of Peekskill from him? Why have you failed to exercise your sworn duty to those who depend upon you? What if Jeffrey were your son? What if Angela or Pat were your daughter? Is it all about “Whose bull has been gored,” after all is said and done?

The citizens of Peekskill, indeed, all who come to your city, Mr. Mayor, are entitled to be free from any threat of malicious and cruel police contact. There is no legitimate excuse for what Eugene Tumolo did to Jeffrey Deskovic, not to mention the consequences to Pat Morrison. Who knows how many other victims of this tyrant with a gun and a badge, will eventually turn up?

No, Mayor Testa, “Sorry” is not nearly enough. If you fail to fire Chief Tumolo you will be broadcasting a very dangerous message to all who live in, or do business in, the City of Peekskill. You will be saying that, in your opinion, the actions taken against Jeffrey Deskovic by your Police Chief are acceptable, and that all who enter your city are at risk of same. Furthermore, you are declaring that as between the Constitutional Rights of citizens, and the protection of police wrongdoers, citizens must take a backseat.

Surely, you are well aware of public sentiment with regard to this matter. And, should you fail to finally do the right thing very shortly, be assured that voters will rectify the problem at the polls. We have every intention of keeping the issue, and all of its serious implications, in the forefront of their awareness.