It Didn't Take Long ....

Less than two hours after Cincinnati City Council on Wednesday voted 8-1 to oppose the possible May parole of Roland Reaves, a press release arrives by e-mail from the Hamilton County Republican Party.

Its headline? "Crowley Stands Up For Convicted Cop Killer."

Maggie Nafziger, executive director of the party, accused Crowley of slapping the entire police department in the face and said maybe Crowley would like Reaves to get out of prison, live in his neighborhood and shop at his grocery store.

Crowley was the only one to vote against Republican Chris Monzel's resolution to oppose parole for Reaves, who was first sentenced to death for the 1974 killing of Officer David Cole. That sentence was later commuted to life in prison.

Crowley, a Democrat, said he didn't feel it was appropriate to weigh in, that the question should be left to the Ohio Parole Board.

"I'm not in a position to judge what this man has done or not done for his freedom," he said.

Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell voted in favor of opposing parole, but later said he had mixed feelings and somewhat agreed with Crowley.

Councilman Cecil Thomas was on the force with Cole at the time of the killing. He remembered the incident as "very cold, callous - just outright murder."

Councilman Jeff Berding, a fellow Democrat, blasted Crowley, questioning whether Crowley used "flawed logic or has a warped value system."

He pointed out that Crowley thought it appropriate in February to ask council to weigh in on the war in Iraq.