Anti-Cop Lawmaker Resigns

ByABC News
January 11, 2001, 11:23 AM

C O N C O R D, N.H., Jan. 11 -- A newly elected state lawmaker who calledfor the killing of police officers in certain cases resignedWednesday under pressure from his party and the voters. Rep. Tom Alciere, a Republican from Nashua, informed thesecretary of state and the House speaker of his resignation in aletter.

Alciere, 41, had said earlier this week that he would step downif fellow lawmakers put his bills to a vote in the full House.Another freshman lawmaker, Manchester Republican Gary Greenberg,has tentatively agreed to substitute his name for Alciere's oneight bills, according to Carol Holahan, director of theLegislature's bill-drafting office. She said Alciere has until Jan.19 to sign off on the bills.

The bills deal with education, underage drinking and drug abuse,among other issues, but not the police.

"I don't even know what's in the bills," Greenberg said. "Mymain concern was he was a distraction to the House. I was willingto come out and help him go."

Police Outraged Ex-Legislator

When reporters knocked on his door Wednesday evening, Alcierecame out, pointed to fire trucks in the distance and said, "Seethat? You ought to cover some real news," went back into hisapartment and refused to come out again.

Alciere also reserved the right to run in the special electionthat would be needed to fill his seat. It wasn't immediately knownwhether he planned to run again.

State GOP leaders and Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, hadcalled for his resignation, suggesting he misled voters.

"Tom Alciere misled the voters about his extremist opinions,"the governor said. "In New Hampshire, we respect and honor ourcitizens who serve in uniform."

Alciere has acknowledged posting anti-police messages on theInternet, including one that said: "There is nothing wrong withslaughtering a cop. Just throw the carcass into the Dumpster withthe rest of the garbage."

Alciere, a married father of one who said he is a circuit boardinspector, has said his anger stems from reading and watchingtelevision about police misconduct.