Statement from New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association (NYSTPBA) President Charles W. Murphy:

The New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association, the union representing uniformed New York State Troopers, is shocked by the flippant attitude of Glenville Town Justice John Lockwood in setting an obscenely low bail amount of $5,000 cash for a female alleged to have been involved in the traffic stop yesterday that resulted in the shooting of New York State Trooper Richard Albert. At the same time, we applaud the support of Schenectady County Assistant District Attorney Peter Willis, who appropriately recommended bail in the amount of $100,000 cash. While we understand Judge Lockwood has discretion in setting bail, we contend that with the charges faced by this defendant – coupled with the reality that our Trooper’s life was altered forever and nearly lost – a higher bail amount would have reflected the grave situation faced by all Troopers who responded to this incident yesterday. We reiterate that out of respect for the criminal justice system and the brave men and women who put their lives on the line each and every day to protect and serve the public, a higher bail amount should have been set.