Officer's family angered by small crime bill ceremony

WOBURN, Mass. (WHDH) -- A new law that denies parole for certain repeat offenders is still creating controversy; family members of a murdered Woburn police officer say they're unhappy about how the governor handled the law’s signing.

Governor Deval Patrick smiled for the cameras in Ashland Thursday for the high-profile signing of a bill regulating animal control -- but it was another story earlier in the day when the governor quietly -- and privately -- signed Melissa’s Bill, designed to keep violent repeat offenders locked up.

The private ceremony angered some including Chuck Maguire, the brother of Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire who was killed in the line of duty by a repeat offender out on parole.

State Senator Bruce Tarr is trying to organize an event to celebrate Melissa’s Law with Maguire and the Woburn Police Department, whose officers also felt left out by the governor.

Governor Patrick brushed off the criticism and said after the private signing he met with Les Gosule, whose daughter's 1999 murder gave her name to the law.

He also met with the head of a group against mandatory minimum sentences that he says is working with him to modify the law.

Woburn’s mayor says he's more interested in what the governor did rather than how he did it.

“I think the most important thing is that the governor signed it, and I’m thrilled he signed it. I fully support the bill, and I just want to thank him for signing it,” said Mayor Scott Galvin, Woburn.