Cop Killer's Sentence Angers Houston Police

HOUSTON --

Houston's top police officer said Wednesday he was disappointed that a jury allowed a police officer's killer to live, KPRC Local 2 reported.

A jury decided Tuesday that Juan Leonardo Quintero, 34, should spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering Officer Rodney Johnson during a traffic stop.

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Quintero was found guilty of capital murder on May 8. Quintero was handcuffed in the back seat of Johnson's patrol car after he was arrested for driving without a license on Sept. 21, 2006, when he opened fire.

"I think I feel like most of the officers," Police Chief Harold Hurtt said. "We're disappointed, but that's the system and I think we work within that every day. We take it as it is."

Veteran Houston Police Officer Shaun Paylin is one of many who rode with Rodney Johnson over the years.

As a husband and father of four, Paylin is among those officers who have more concerns for their safety after Quintero escaped the death penalty.

Paylin and Johnson's widow, Sgt. Joslyn Johnson, are concerned the verdict sends a bad message to criminals on the streets.

"Taking a shot at an officer apparently isn't as bad as it used to be and I'm concerned they are going to think they'll take that chance of shooting an officer -- if he's not looking at the death penalty," Paylin said.

Johnson's widow added, "It gives them the go ahead -- a Harris County deputy was just shot last night."

Joslyn Johnson is requesting HPD make two officers per car mandatory for added safety.

Mayor Bill White said Wednesday manpower would be stretched thin.

"There's a trade off. If you put two officers in every car in driving traffic, you'd have to take officers out of patrol and put in to traffic," he said.

Joslyn Johnson said she might resort to suing the city of Houston if changes are not made.

The League of United Latin American Citizen's Francisco Rodriguez said he is concerned that national LULAC efforts to unite and to lobby Congress for immigration reform was set back by the Quintero verdict fallout.

"Some individuals, not the Johnson family, but some individuals see the opportunity to exercise their demagoguery and do some Hispanic bashing and even further bash immigration or immigration-bashing that is a wave across this country," Rodriguez said.

Andy Kahan, with the mayor's Crime Victim's Assistance Center, said, "I'd like to see real change because of the Quintero case and the railcar killer and the east end rapists. These people who are convicted and deported need to be put in the system with an open warrant for their arrests, so that when they return here to pursue their criminal careers and they get caught, law enforcement has the tools to take action immediately."

Johnson's widow broke down and cried when the punishment was announced. The Johnson family wanted the death penalty.

"The city lost a hero. The department lost one of the best officers. I lost my husband. I feel victimized all over again," said Sgt. Joslyn Johnson.

Rodney Johnson's sister took the stand and read the victim's impact statement.

"Juan Quintero is not remorseful and he is not insane. Losing a loved one the way that we did and we have is enough to drive someone insane," Susan Johnson said.

Houston police officials have said their sentiments are with the Johnson family and that department commanders decide how many officers are necessary to handle a particular case. They said it is normal for police departments to have just one officer in each patrol car.

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