Parole for the man convicted of killing Lower Township Police Officer David C. Douglass Sr. in 1994 has been put on hold pending approval of an out-of-state parole plan.
The New Jersey State Parole Board confirmed that the release of Chung Ho was placed on administrative hold on Sept.18. A June 26 notice of release for Ho, who spent the last 30 years in East Jersey State Prison, indicated that Ho would be released to a residential community program.
The document says Ho, who is 80, must successfully complete the program, with stipulations that he refrain from the purchase and possession of alcohol and refrain from frequenting bars and liquor stores..
Ho must also not have contact with the victim’s family and must abide by a curfew set by the district parole supervisor.
A similar notice of release, dated July 24, said that Ho’s release was authorized effective Sept. 23 under a Florida parole plan and conditioned upon having an “acceptable residential parole plan” in that state, as well as the previously noted conditions.
Ho was convicted of shooting Douglass on Feb. 18, 1994, when Douglass responded to a call reporting suspicious activity at Sunnyside and Fieldview drives in North Cape May. Douglass, then 34, died from the single bullet wound. Ho fled but was traced to New York, where he was arrested for the crime.
The New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association and the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police wrote letters to the Parole Board opposing Ho’s release. David C. Douglass Jr. also opposed Ho’s release, which he said was granted after about an hour. He said he felt like Ho was being granted a vacation rather than parole.
In August, Douglass said it was reported to the parole board that Ho had dementia. The June document indicated Ho had “mental health needs.” Douglass said Ho told the Parole Board he had dementia, which caused him to be unable to recall the details of the 1994 shooting. Yet, Douglass said, Ho had told the Parole Board he was worried about maxing out in September.
“He was given 30 years to life – there is no maxing out,” Douglass said in August.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
