 |
September 29, 2004
For Immediate Release |
Contact: Albert O'Leary
212-298-9190
or Joseph Mancini
212-298-9150
|
OPPOSE PAROLE FOR COP KILLER
PBA president Patrick J. Lynch joined Mrs. Linda Sledge, widow
of murdered police officer Cecil “Frank” Sledge in front
of the 69 Precinct, Canarsie, Brooklyn, to demand the continued
incarceration of Salvatore “Crazy Sal” Desarno who killed
the officer on January 28, 1980 while on parole for robbery and
who is now eligible for parole again.
Desarno was on parole for committing armed robbery when police
officer Sledge stopped him in his car in connection with other armed
robberies in the area. Desarno opened fire without warning and proceeded
to drive his car over the fallen police officer dragging him for
a quarter mile and leaving him dead in the street. Officer Sledge
was a 12 year NYPD veteran and was 35 years old when he was killed.
PBA president Pat Lynch said: “This cold-blooded cop-killer
who killed while on parole for other crimes must never see the light
of day as a free man. We must send a message — strong and
clear — that you cannot kill a police officer in New York
State and expect to be free one day. There should never be parole
for a convict who kills anyone while on parole for another crime.
Sal Desarno has denied a woman her husband and two children their
loving father. There is no parole from death and so Desarno should
remain in prison for the rest of his life.”
Mrs. Sledge said: “There is not a night or day that goes
by that I don’t think of Frank and miss him. He is always
in my thoughts and prayers and I know he would be very proud of
his son and daughter. This terrible man has denied us the joy of
a life with a good and kind man, a man who was a loving father and
husband and a proud and dedicated police officer. His killer should
never be allowed to walk the streets again for what he did.”
### |