The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Friday praised the work of United States and Mexican authorities for the capture and extradition of the suspected killer of Denver Police Officer Donald “Donnie” Young.
In recent months, embassy officials told The Denver Post, the case of suspected killer Raul Gomez-Garcia has been one of the highest priorities at the embassy in Mexico City.
“The extradition of Gomez-Garcia…is proof that criminal suspects cannot escape justice by fleeing across the border and demonstrates the commitment on both sides of the border to bringing fugitives to justice,” said U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza.
“Thanks to the excellent cooperation of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the Denver Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Mexican Investigation Agency (ADI), and Interpol, Gomez-Garcia will face trial for the heinous murder of one policeman and attempted murder of another in Denver,” the ambassador said.
Garza praised Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey for his flexibility and willingness to work with Mexican authorities. Mexican officials had told Morrissey that Gomez-Garcia wouldn’t be extradited to the United States if Morrissey charged him with a crime that could result in a death sentence or life in prison without possibility of parole.
Garza noted that at the time Gomez-Garcia’s extradition was requested, a 2001 Mexican Supreme Court ruling prohibited the extradition of persons facing life imprisonment without parole, because such sentences were deemed cruel and unusual punishment under the Mexican constitution. Mexico is also opposed to the death penalty.
As a result, Morrissey decided to file second-degree murder in Young’s death and attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of Detective John “Jack” Bishop. Although neither charge carries a death sentence or mandatory life without chance of parole, convictions on both can result in a 99 year prison sentence for Gomez-Garcia.
“The Denver authorities’ decision on how to charge Gomez with the crime, in consultation with the family of Officer Young, was no doubt very difficult, but their flexibility contributed significantly to the successful conclusion of the extradition case,” Garza said.
“This case certainly serves as an example of commitment on both sides of the border to bring fugitives to justice as expeditiously as possible. The embassy also wishes to recognize the Mexican Attorney General’s Office and the Secretariat of Foreign Relations for their cooperation in this matter,” he added.
Garza noted that although not handed in time to affect Gomez’s extradition case, the Mexican Supreme Court recently reversed its 2001 decision concerning life imprisonment.
“In future cases, this new decision should remove a significant obstacle to the extradition of fugitives facing life imprisonment in the United States,” said the ambassador.
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-820-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
