By JONATHAN SALANT OF THE STAR LEDGER - The head of the New Jersey State Police union told federal lawmakers today that "basic human decency" requires the extradition of convicted cop-killer Joanne Chesimard amid efforts to restore relations with Cuba.

"We urge you to demand and include the immediate return of Chesimard before any further consideration of restoration of diplomatic relations with the Cuban government," Chris Burgos, president of the State Troopers Fraternal Association told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee in written testimony.

Burgos's statement was submitted to U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.), who chaired today's hearing looking at human rights in Cuba in the wake of President Obama's Dec. 17 announcement that he would begin re-establishing diplomatic relations with the communist country and easing economic restrictions.

"We are shocked and very disappointed that returning a convicted killer of a state trooper was not already demanded and accomplished in the context of the steps announced by the White House regarding this despotic dictatorship," Burgos said in his written testimony. The family of her victims "deserve this basic human decency."

At a hearing of the full Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, Smith asked Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson about extraditing Chesimard.

"Every time I talk with the Cuban government, I mention the case of Joanne Chesimard," Jacobson said. "I'm a daughter of New Jersey. I grew up with this case and other fugitive cases."

"What's the response?" Smith asked.

"We have not gotten a positive response on Joanne Chesimard," Jacobson said.

Smith pressed on. "What did they say?" he asked.

"They said they are not interested in discussing her return," Jacobson responded.

Smith recounted the conservation at today's hearing. "This is unacceptable," he said.

Chesimard was sentenced to life in prison for the 1973 murder of Trooper Werner Foerster during a gunfight after she and other members of the Black Liberation Army had been stopped by State Police on the New Jersey Turnpike. She later escaped from prison and fled to Cuba. Two years ago, she became the first woman on the FBI's list of most wanted terrorists.

Federal, state and local officials from New Jersey on both sides of the political aisle have called for Chesimard's extradition and have criticized the Obama administration for insisting on her return as a price for restoring relations.

"Why was her return not part of the deal?" U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the son of Cuban immigrants and the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, asked at a separate hearing earlier in the week.

Originally published Feb. 5, 2015 at: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/02/nj_state_police_union_president_to_congress_chesim.html