A defendant in the 1981 Brinks robbery and shooting in Rockland County is asking for clemency from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day says he'll never forget when David Gilbert and two co-defendants killed a Brinks security guard and two Nyack police officers in a 1981 armored car robbery.

Gilbert was convicted for the murders of security guard Peter Paige, Sgt. Ed O'Grady and police officer Waverly Brown.

A judge sentenced Gilbert to 75 years to life.

Now, after spending nearly 40 years in prison, Gilbert, his son and others are asking Gov. Cuomo for early release from his life sentence.

News 12 talked to Steve Zeidman by phone Monday. He's a lawyer and CUNY law professor who is part of the clemency campaign to get Gilbert released.

He says Gilbert, now 76, has a clean prison record. He adds that he is remorseful and is a changed man.

Day says he's not convinced, and adds that he will do everything he can to make sure Gilbert remains behind bars.

"We will not forget here in Rockland County. We will fight back to the extent legally of course, to try and slow it down and stop it. We will not forget the lives we just don't do that here in Rockland County," he says.