A Manhattan judge Monday threw the book at a Harlem madman who stabbed a cop in the head with a knife, sentencing him to 25 years, as she praised the hard and dangerous work of police officers.
Justice Ann Donnelly called victim Det. Eder Loor “courageous” and “honorable” for the way he conducted himself on April 17, 2012, when Terrance Hale plunged a jagged 3 1/2 -inch blade into his skull, piercing his brain.
“There is so much negative news about police officers in our country and our city,” she said. “This trial demonstrated quite the opposite of this negative portrayal. Officer Loor is precisely the kind of person we want to serve as a police officer.”
The jury convicted Hale, 29, of assault, aggravated assault of a police officer, and weapon’s possession, but found him not guilty of attempted murder on April 22.
The brutal attack happened after Loor, 31, and his partner responded to a 911 call for an emotionally disturbed person in Harlem. Hale’s mother told the operator her son was a bipolar schizophrenic, off his medication and acting erratic.
Donnelly lauded how the two cops “took the violent defendant into custody without any incident whatsoever, ensuring the safety of the people who live and work in that area” until Hale viciously lunged at Loor with the knife.
“You have forever changed this young man’s life,” she sternly told Hale. “He may never be able to pursue the career that he wanted to pursue and our city is certainly poorer for that … you are a danger to our community.”
Loor read a brief statement describing the short-term memory loss and pain that he still endures on a daily basis. He has been on medical leave since the bloody attack. He also criticized the jury’s surprising decision to acquit Hale of the top count.
“I believe he should get the maximum sentence to keep him away from other people and because he only got a conviction of the lower charges even though he did try to kill me,” Loor said.
The doctors who treated the brave cop described his survival as a “miracle.”
Several of Loor’s family members and friends burst into tears when the judge handed down the maximum sentence. The judge could have given Hale as little as 10 years.
At trial, the defense argued that Hale, who has a documented history of mental illness, was in the midst of a severe delusion when he stabbed Loor but jurors rejected the insanity claim.
Prosecutors argued that Hale’s violent actions are not a symptom of disease but the way he deals with the world and gets what he wants from it.
Hale has a long rap sheet that includes a felony conviction for stabbing a pal in the back and arm in 2006.