April 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.4

AROUND THE

AROUND THE COUNTRYDENVER, CO.Slain Detective's Family Outraged After Colorado Cop Killer Appliesfor Early Release Program.A man who was convicted offatally ambushing an off-dutyDenver police officer in 2005 hasapplied for a program that couldmake him eligible for early releasefrom prison, sparking outragefrom the officer's family andlaw enforcement community.Raul Gomez-Garcia was 19years old when he was convictedof killing Denver Police DetectiveDonald "Donnie" YoungII on May 8, 2005. He was alsoconvicted of seriously woundingYoung's partner, Detective JackBishop.Young and Bishop were workingan off-duty security job inuniform when Gomez-Garciashot both officers from behindin an ambush. Young was shottwice in the back and once inthe head and mortally wounded,while Bishop was struck in theback and saved by body armor,the City of Denver says.Gomez-Garcia, who was undocumented,fled to Mexico butwas later captured. Then-DenverDistrict Attorney Mitch Morrisseysaid he was forced to make adeal with Mexican officials toextradite Gomez-Garcia to theUnited States. As part of thatdeal, Morrissey could only chargeGomez-Garcia with second-degreemurder, Denver 7 reports.Gomez-Garcia was convictedin 2006 and sentenced to 80years in prison — the maximumsentence. He will be eligible forparole in 2053.During a press conferenceTuesday, Young's family said theywere notified that Gomez-Garciahad applied for a Colorado Departmentof Correction programdesigned for people who wereconvicted of crimes as juvenilesand young adults.Prisoners who complete thethree-year program, which includesclasses and hands-on lessonson financial literacy, careerdevelopment, healthy living andtechnology, are then submittedto the parole board for consideration.Last month, Young's familyand the Denver Police ProtectiveAssociation (DPPA) held apress conference to denounceGomez-Garcia's eligibility for theprogram.46 The BLUES - APRIL ‘25

The BLUES - APRIL ‘25 47