What Brinks cop told Judith Clark's parole board
'I swore on their graves that I would continue doing that for the rest of my life and here I am, 35 years later still doing it.' -Arthur Keenan, Brink's survivor
Former Nyack detective Arthur Keenan said Monday that he gave an hour-and-15-minute victim-impact statement to a New York parole board Friday with a simple purpose: Keep Brinks getaway driver Judith Clark in prison.
Clark was sentenced to 75 years to life for her part in the 1981 Brinks murders and robbery that left three dead. Last month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo made Clark eligible for a parole hearing by commuting her 75-years-to-life sentence.
Keenan survived the infamous 1981 robbery of a Brinks armored car at the Nanuet Mall, where self-proclaimed revolutionaries stole $1.6 million and killed Brinks guard Peter Paige, then killed Nyack police Sgt. Edward O’Grady and Officer Waverly “Chipper” Brown at a roadblock.
“Thanks to God, I was left behind for a purpose and that purpose was to testify…in court and bring justice for Peter Paige and Chip Brown and Eddie O’Grady,” Keenan told The Journal News/lohud Monday. “I swore on their graves that I would continue doing that for the rest of my life and here I am, 35 years later still doing it.”
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Keenan said his testimony sought to draw parallels between his life and Clark’s, both growing up in the tumultuous 1960s. Keenan said he chose a path that led to civil service, while Clark chose a path that led to crime.
Today, Keenan suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and said the news of the potential release of Clark triggers it to be worse.
The former police officer said he’s frustrated with Cuomo for not agreeing to meet with him. Keenan said he has been trying to arrange a meeting, unsuccessfully, since he first heard Cuomo was considering commuting Clark’s sentence.
In commuting Clark's sentence, Cuomo compared her role to that of Kathy Boudin, who served more than 20 years for the Brinks heist before she was paroled in 2003.
Cuomo's statement release announcing his actions said Clark "received one of the longest sentences of her six co-defendants, the majority of whom are either deceased or no longer in custody."
The governor's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
News of Clark’s potential release has drawn criticisms and protests from many in the Rockland County community. Hundreds protested in front of the County Courthouse earlier this month and survivors of the three victims’ families have come out against her potential release
Some law enforcement officials have criticized the characterization of Clark as a getaway driver, saying she was involved in the planning of the robbery. The robbery was executed by Black Liberation Army members and former Weather Underground radicals.
Twitter: @marklungariello