February 25, 2020
United States Parole Commission
90 K Street NE, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20530
RE: Artie Ray DUFUR (BOP Register Number 09917-086)
Dear Parole Board:
The National Police Defense Foundation, a congressionally recognized and IRS designated 501 (c) (3) police organization, which has a membership that exceeds 210,000 members and supporters nationwide is recommending against the parole for Artie Ray DUFUR. The parole hearing is scheduled to take place in April of 2020, at the Federal Correctional Institution in Hazelton, West Virginia.
In 1979, at the Lynden, Washington Port of Entry, DUFUR murdered 34-year-old United States Customs Service Inspector Kenneth G. Ward unprovoked and in cold blood. During the same incident, he attempted to murder an unarmed U.S. Immigration Inspector.
DUFUR is clearly a career violent criminal who has shown on multiple occasions that he has no compunction about murdering and attempting to murder law enforcement officers or others. He has a prior history of murder and multiple escapes from incarceration.
It is our organizations fervent belief that DUFUR propensity for attacking law enforcement officers and his violent behavior, if released, would pose a danger to the public, as well as the law enforcement community.
DUFUR has similarly demonstrated as an inmate he frequently violated BOP’s rules and regulations. Therefore, that coupled with his lengthy and violent criminal history, there is a reasonable probability that DUFUR will again commit a Federal, State, or local crime.
Respectfully,
Joseph Occhipinti Founder & Executive Director
cc: Executive Board, National Police Defense Foundation Executive Board, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA)