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Police Union Boss Vows to Follow Accused Officer Killer's Case to the End

By Gustavo Solis | November 24, 2015 2:44pm
 Tyrone Howard is walked into Manhattan Criminal Court after being charged with shooting Officer Randolph Holder in East Harlem, Oct. 21, 2015.
Tyrone Howard is walked into Manhattan Criminal Court after being charged with shooting Officer Randolph Holder in East Harlem, Oct. 21, 2015.
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DNAinfo/Ben Fractenberg

CIVIC CENTER — Tyrone Howard, the man accused of killing NYPD Officer Randolph Holder pleaded not guilty to murder charges Tuesday morning in a courtroom packed with the officer's former colleagues.

Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch, told reporters after the brief arraignment that he vowed to maintain a strong presence throughout the case to to show their support for Holder and his family.

“We’ll be here today, we’ll be here tomorrow, and we’ll be here every day to make sure we see the day when this miscreant is behind bars,” he said in the courthouse hallway.

Holder’s family sat directly behind the man on trial for their son’s death.

Holder’s father, who was a police officer in his native Guyana, declined to speak to reporters after the arraignment.

Howard’s lawyer criticized Lynch’s post-arraignment demonstration.

“The proper place to try a case is in the courtroom where a jury can consider the evidence,” said Michael Hurwitz. “You can’t try a case in the hallway. At the end of the day the only opinion that matters is the opinion of the jury.”

Police said Howard shot Holder, a five-year NYPD veteran, while the officer and his partner chased him up the FDR after a gang-related shooting at the East River Houses.

Howard was charged with multiple counts of murder, robbery, and criminal possession of a firearm.

Howard served two stints in state prison and was wanted on an outstanding warrant for a Sept. 1 shooting. 

At the time of the shooting Howard wasn't behind bars because he had been enrolled in a diversion program following a 2014 drug charge. Both the mayor and police commissioner criticized Judge Patricia Nunez for choosing diversion over incarceration.

Nunez defended her decision and accused the mayor and commissioner of grandstanding, before sentencing Howard to 12 years in prison for his earlier drug possession case on Nov. 12, records show.

He is due back in court on the officer shooting on February 1.