Vote on death penalty was victory for victims
By George T. Yaros
Guest Columnist  [This article appeared in the Gary Post-Tribune in February of 1999.]

On Feb. 17, the state Senate Corrections, Criminal and Civil Procedures Committee voted against a bill to commute the sentences of those on Death Row to life in prison.  This is not only a victory for the victims, but a victory for the majority of people who want the death penalty in this state.

Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, was quoted as saying, "These men are not monsters."

Monsters in the true sense of the word don't acually exist.  The people on death row exist.

Every day these so called non-monsters can talk to their families, receive letters and if the prison library does not carry a book they want, the law requires the state to purchase it for them.

For the victims' families, they're left with memories of all those special times.  The victims of crime have missed children's birth, weddings, anniversaries, football and basketball games and graduations.  We must survive through the difficult times when just having them here to comfort you or hold your hand would make a difference — all the times when you wish you could go to them for advice.  Those are all the things and more these monsters take away.

My father and best friend was George Yaros, a lieutenant on the Gary police department.  In 1981, he was responding to a possible bank robbery at the Gary National Bank.  One of those so-called non-monsters Rogers talks about came out of the bank shooting.  With my father on the ground unconscious, this perpetrator decided to finish him off by shooting him point blank in the chest severing his aorta.

The worst of this scenario was the possiblity that had he not shot him in that manner (cold blood), my father might be here today.

My father was a strong man.  Serving in World War II as a paratrooper for the 101st Airborne Division, he was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge.  My father was taken prisoner by the Germans and put in a POW camp, only to escape.  He continued to give to the community after he came home by becoming a police officer.

My father and those officers like him put their lives on the line every day; these men and women are true heroes.

So you see, these men on death row are indeed worse than monsters.  All the so-called special interest groups trying to abolish the death penalty because they think it does not deter crime should put their money where their mouths are. Try helping all those people, young and old, who are having a difficult time following the laws; those who say their childhood was dysfunctional and the environment in which they lived made them turn to crime.

Why doesn't Rogers take a few of them into her home and rehabilitate them and give taxpayers a break?

Between 1920 and 1949, 51 people were executed.  This was back in the days when people could leave their doors unlocked, when parents raised their children to respect others and the laws.

Since 1950, only nine people have been executed in Indiana.  Let's review:  More executions, less crime; few executions, more crime.  The real reason the death penalty does not deter crime is because we do not use it.

These people sit on death row for years getting appeal after appeal.  Our family has been waiting 18 years for justice to be served.  You talk about mistakes and rehabilitation for these non-monsters.  Well, the "monster" who killed my father was given a second chance after he killed an elederly man in 1975.  The so-called experts said he was rehabilitated.  Instead, he chose to commit a crime again; this time he killed a cop, my dad, my best friend.

People are sick and tired of all the second chances and how the rights of the poor criminal have been violated.  What about our rights to live in a safe society?

Maybe if the system was swift and just, people thinking of committing a crime would think twice.  Then again, why should they?  They have people like Rogers standing there.  Rogers should do us all a favor and use her position as a representative of this state to represent the people.

The people want the death penalty.

George T. Yaros is resident of Valparaiso, IN.  [Note:  He is also, as is obvious, the son of murdered Gary Police Lt. George Yaros, and the cousin of this Webmaster.]

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Yaros Family Plans Memorial Service
By Lori Caldwell / Post-Tribune staff writer
[10 Aug 2006]

GARY—On the 25th anniversary of Gary police Lt. George Yaros’ death, his family will gather at his graveside to remember their loss and pray for justice.

The service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at his graveside at Calumet Park Cemetery, 73rd Avenue and Taft Street in Merrillville.  "This is a way we can show support for the Yaros family - that we as a law enforcement family are there for them while they are awaiting justice.  We will not forget Lt. Yaros," Hamer said.

David,

I would like to thank you for all the work and time you have put into this site for my dad.  It means so much to all of us and especially my two daughters who didn't get to meet their grandfather.  They both have read your site and have learned what happened to their grandfather.  This has been a terrible time for all of us, hard to put into words what I am feeling right now.  I was reading comments from the newspaper and your site came up so I thought I would read it again.  I also want to thank all those that made comments here about my dad.  It means so much.  Thank you again, your cousin Jane. (If you don't remember me, I'm Uncle George's youngest daughter.)
[20 October, 2008 11:05]