The more than 2 to 1 vote came despite lobbying by the slain officer's family and law enforcement groups, who say the legislature is sending a bad message.
While renaming a road after a police officer killed in the line of duty may seem straightforward, there has been nothing easy in the debate over the McKay proposal. The difficulties include the mixed view some have of Bruce McKay and the opposition of the local committee charged with fostering healing in the wake of the traffic stop that ended up killing not just McKay, but also his killer, Liko Kenney. Add to that the flood of e-mails, calls and letters -- for and against -- that have rained down on lawmakers. Then factor in that the roadway in question is already bears the name of former US Senator Styles Bridges, and you’ll have a few of the reasons that committee members who took testimony on the measure, were urging colleagues to stand down.
"I believe my fellow Representatives that if you sat on this committee you would have done the exactly what the committee voted unanimouously to do."
That’s Nashua Democrat David Campbell.
"Allow a town and local community some time to heal and give all of a us some time to reach a consensus on how and where to best honor corporal Bruce McKay."
But to supporter of the McKay bill -- and these range from the Franconia board of selectmen, to state and local law enforcement, waiting until next year is simply wrong. Republican George Winchell is retired police officer who represents Atkinson.
"He was killed in the line of duty and I think he deserves to have a section of any highway, any road up in the north country, whatever you want to name after him, he deserves that today."
Moments later, the house voted to hold the measure for study by a vote of 257 to 95. In the hall outside the House chamber, the woman who was Bruce Mckay’s fiancée at the time of his death, Sharon Davis-Mckay, said lawmakers had been mislead.
"They have been very much swayed by a lot of information that has hit the papers already, and it attacks the character of Bruce and his integrity -- and it’s all incorrect."
After being consoled by Polcie Chiefs, State Troopers and Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, Davis-Mckay, other family members and the lawmaker who sponsored the failed bill, were off to see Governor John Lynch, who moments before the debate began told reporters that Mckay deserves a fitting tribute.
"I’m outraged that there is the suggestion that somehow we shouldn't honor Bruce McKay, or somehow he is responsiable for his own killing. I think we should have a memorial
for Bruce McKay, exactly where it should be, I think should be a discussion with folks in the local area."
Backers of the McKay proposal say they remain hopeful he'll end up with a road named in his honor. The soonest the legislature could take that up is next year.
