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PAG;E 14, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14. 1981,WIIITBY FREE PRESS Durham Police want capital punishment returned. Lobbyin g proved fruitless i ap]peals By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff The recent shooting death' of OPP Constable Rick Ver- decchia has brought renewed cries for the return ï1 capital punishment, t specially from police associations. And Durham Regfion is no xception. Constable Dale Allan, resident of the Durham legional Police Association ý aid last week that his group wants to see capital punish- ment returned, however, lobbying the politicians has proved fruitless. Allan called Verdecchia's death "tragic" a Ad said that the majority of police' of- ficers support the return of the death penalty not only fo the murder of police officers and prision guards but for ahl forms of premeditated murder. "lWe have neyer been an advocate of the death penalty for only police of- ficers and prision guards but also for the premeditated murder of ail citizens," he said. Responding to the arugement - that capital punishment is not an effec- tive deterrant, Allan said that it was "hard to measure how effective it is. " "It's an immeasurable thing," he said. "if it (capital punishment) had of been there, how do we know how many lives it would have saved? " Lobbying for the measure of the part' of police associations bas "fallen on dead ears," Allan said although he "s quick to add that "no way is it a dead issue. " The veteran police officer also said that a survey showed that 80 per cent of ahl Canadians favor the death penalty and hoped that politicians would realize the tide of public opinion. Allan said that there are two, things tiiat may have prevented Verdecchia 's death, the new lightweight bulletproof vest and the two- man patrol car. However, ho said that a close examination of the vest, which costs about $165 each is needed and, that law enforcement officials have to,"come up with a good vest that is serviceable. " He did not know how many Durham Regional Police of- ficers have already pur- chased the vest. Allan was not totally con- vinced that the slaying would have been prevented had Verdecchia been on patrol with another officer. "If there had been another officer there it is possible that it stili might have hap- pened,- he said. "-It could just as easily been two of- ficers dead. " Allan did say that a second off icer present could have lessoned the chances of a shooting because his presence would "make a person think" before acting. Forty-five members of Durham's finest attended Verdecchia's funeral in Huntsville last week. New car wash Richard Piper, John Korrigan and co*ownsr of the newly renovated car wash on Brock Street North Ray ChIley watch as Ed Piper expiains the operation of thoir new Ryko car wash. The new set Up la oniy the third of lits klnd ln Canada and le totally automnatic. The unit la capable of handling up ta 50 cars an hour and le actlvatod bytokena. Each wash wIii cost 12. The car wash la alto ownsd by Paul and Jim Terrli. Free Press Staff Photo. EBLE Christmas NTENNR he ýEERVIGIE he WANTS TO THANK YO U FOR YO UR winners PA TROAGE & S UPPOR T IN 1980 For the month of January WE'ARE Glvi NOAWAY FREE The Whitby Lions Club has announced the winners of TV or AERIAL SERVICE CALL their Christmas Cheer draw. The winners are: f irst AT DIFFERENTTIME INTERVALS DAILY prize, W.W. Suiston of Whit- 513 Perry St. Whltby by; second prize, Tom Hen- dricks of Oshawa; third 668u6901prize Robert Sinclair of Whitby; and fourth prize, Rashid Ansari of Oshawa.