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©1999 - 2012
Edward D. Reuss
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PAROLE FOR A COP KILLER?

There are not many retired cops who don’t remember with a chilling dread the murder of Police Officer Cecil F. Sledge, 69 Pct, NYPD on January 28, 1980.  In a era of unprecedented violence against police officers, his heinous murder at the hands of a parolee must remain seared in our collective memory. 

His convicted killer, Salvatore DeSarno, has petitioned for parole. The wife of Police Officer Sledge has asked for help to petition the Parole Board to deny DeSarno parole. She asks for those who would help her to sign a copy of the petition forms and mail a copy to Governor George E. Pataki, and the Division of Parole, and the Sullivan Correctional Facility.


Cecil F. Sledge, 69th Precinct
 
Mrs. Sledge wrote:

My husband was New York City Police Officer Cecil Frank Sledge who was shot and dragged to his death by Salvatore DeSarno on January 28, 1980 in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. DeSarno was out on parole when he killed my husband.
Officer Sledge was 35 years old, a twelve year veteran of the New York City Police Department receiving numerous awards for outstanding performance as a police officer. Officer Sledge was a husband, and a father of a three year old son and a nine month old daughter. My family and I are reaching out to anyone who will help us keep this killer in jail where he belongs. For all those who stand for justice please write your letters to the following addresses. Your time and effort will be greatly appreciated by his family.

Thank you.
Linda Sledge.



PETITION TO DENY PAROLE
                       
New York State Division of Parole
Victim Impact Unit
97 Central Avenue
Albany, New York 12206

Re: Parole Hearings for:Salvatore DeSarno
DIN#81A-1798
NYSID#4075158Q
Date if Birth: 10-21-58

A visitor to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. can view the name of Police Officer Cecil F. Sledge, 69th Precinct, NYPD on Panel 36E, Line 2.  His name is listed with the thousands of other police officers who have given the “last full measure of devotion” to us all. Officer Sledge died in the line of duty on January 28, 1980.  While performing duty on solo patrol in the confines of the 69th Precinct, Brooklyn, New York, Officer Sledge stopped an auto driven by a suspect who was on parole and was wanted for questioning regarding a robbery. As he approached the vehicle, Officer Sledge was shot by the suspect later identified as Salvatore DeSarno. DeSarno then accelerated the vehicle dragging Officer Sledge at a high rate of speed. DeSarno continued to drag the Officer and resulted in the death of Officer Sledge.

Officer Sledge had served for twelve years as a police officer with the NYPD.  He was a husband and the father of a three year old son and a nine month old daughter. He was 35 years of age.  He would never live to see his children grow to adulthood.  His wife would never have her husband to share her life.

The release of DeSarno on parole would be a grave injustice to his family as well as society.  The murder of a police officer is a crime that cries out for justice. In this time of great danger to our society, we must reinforce in the minds of criminals and terrorists that assaults on our police will merit not only swift justice, but with punishment that fits the crime. Absent the death penalty in such cases, life imprisonment is a fitting sentence.

The undersigned petitions members of the Board to deny parole for Salvatore DeSarno. At the time of the murder of Officer Sledge, DeSarno was on parole. This fact speaks volumes about his appeal for parole.

Respectfully,


NAME: ______________________________________________________

RESIDENCE ZIP CODE:___________________________________________________



NOTE:

Petitions to the New York State Board of Parole are placed in the appeal folders of those seeking parole.  Both the inmates and their attorney have access to the contents of petitions. Do not enter information of a personal nature such as home phone numbers, fax numbers, or other sensitive personal data. 

NOTE:
Petition form available in ADOBE 6 PDF FORMAT CLICK HERE



MAIL A COPY TO THE FOLLOWING:

Re: Salvatore DeSarno
DIN#: 81A1798
NYSID# 4075158Q
Date if Birth: 10-21-58

Please send your letters to:

1. Sullivan Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 116
Fallsburg, New York 12733-0116
Attention: Parole Office

2. State of New York
Division of Parole
97 Central Avenue
Albany, New York 12206
Attention: "Victim Impact Unit"

3. Governor George E. Pataki
State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224

For more information: Visit the web site of the SURVIVORS OF THE SHIELD WWW.NYPDSOS.COM


NOTE:
Petition form available in ADOBE 6 PDF FORMAT CLICK HERE




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