AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH DECISIONS LIKE THESE AND THE REPERCUSSIONS THEY HAVE CREATED FOR OUR FAMILIIES.
On the weekend of July 14, 2017 several brutal and violent attacks took place in the City of Peekskill. In addition to being robbed, the three victims of the attacks were physically injured, with one of the victims in serious condition suffering from a fractured skull and other serious injuries. All three victims were Hispanic, prompting the police to investigate the attacks as potential hate crimes. The arrested suspects are Peekskill residents ranging from 20-21 years of age. All three have been charged with felony robbery in the second degree and felony assault in the second degree. One of the attackers also has an open case against him for domestic violence. Even though the suspects committed serious felony crimes and the Westchester DA handling the case requested $25,000 bail for the attackers, the Peekskill Associate Judge Melissa Loehr chose to release them without bail! Within a short amount of time after being apprehended they were simply released back on the street! We find this unnerving and irresponsible. We the people, concerned about our safety, rely upon fair independent judges to not only dispense justice equally, but to protect the innocent and our community from the ravages of crime. Any favoritism shown to any defendant should be condemned. These recent events call into question the judgement of Melissa Loehr and her competence to sit on the bench in the City of Peekskill. As a member of this community, I do NOT feel safe with decisions like these and the repercussions they have created for our families. Please sign the petition to remove Judge Melissa Loehr for her negligence and to keep our streets safe.